Antinociceptive and anti-hyperalgesic effects of bis(4-methylbenzoyl) diselenide in mice: Evidence for the mechanism of action

Context: The organoselenium compounds have been described to demonstrate several biological activities, including pain management. Objective: This study investigated the antinociceptive, hyperalgesic, and toxic effects of oral administration of bis(4-methylbenzoyl) diselenide (BMD) in mice. Materials and methods: The antinociceptive and anti-hyperalgesic effects of BMD (1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg, p.o.) were evaluated using models of nociception: formalin, capsaicin, bradykinin (BK), cinnamaldehyde, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), 8-bromo-cAM, and glutamate-induced nociception; and mechanical hyperalgesia induced by carrageenan (Cg) or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The acute toxicity was evaluated by biochemical markers for hepatic and renal damages. Results: BMD significantly inhibited the licking time of the injected paw in the early and late phases of a formalin test with ED50 values of 14.2 and 10.8 mg/kg, respectively. This compound reduced nociception produced by capsaicin (ED50 of 32.5 mg/kg), BK (ED50 of 24.6 mg/kg), glutamate (ED50 of 28.7 mg/kg), cinnamaldehyde (ED50 of 18.9 mg/kg), PMA (ED50 of 9.6 mg/kg), and 8-bromo-cAMP (ED50 of 24.8 mg/kg). In the glutamate test, the pretreatment with nitric oxide (NO) precursor, L-arginine, reversed antinociception caused by BMD or N-omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG), but the effect of BMD was not abolished by naloxone. Mechanical hyperalgesia induced by Cg and CFA was attenuated by BMD, 70 +/- 4% and 65 +/- 4%, respectively. Furthermore, a single oral dose of BMD did not change plasma aspartate (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities or urea and creatinine levels. Conclusion: BMD demonstrated as a promising compound because of the antinociceptive and anti-hyperalgesic properties in mice.