Thymus persicus (Ronniger ex Rech. f.) Jalas alleviates nociceptive and neuropathic pain behavior in mice: Multiple mechanisms of action

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Thymus persicus (Roniger ex Reach F.) is an Iranian endemic medicinal plant of which essential oil and various products have numerous food and pharmaceutical applications (headache and fever treatments). Objective: This modern research included Swiss mice to investigate the anti-nociceptive and anti-neuropathic effects of Thymus persicus aerial parts essential oil (TPEO). Materials and methods: To determine TPEO's anti-nociceptive function in the formalin-induced paw licking (FML), researchers looked at the L-arginine/NO/cGMP/KATP channel signaling pathway as well as multiple receptors as with serotonin, morphine, dopamine, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. The CVC or cervical spinal cord contusion exemplar has also been used to induce neuropathic pain. Results: TPEO (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) relative to control mice in the phase-II of FML provided strong antinociception (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, methylene blue, glibenclamide, N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, naloxonazine, nor-binaltorphimine, prazosin, yohimbine, and ondansetron pre-treating restored the TPEO anti-nociceptive activity in the FML (phase-II) exemplar (p < 0.05). In phase-II of the FML exemplar, carvacrol (one of the active components of TPEO) also greatly reduced pain (p < 0.001). Likewise, in CVC mice, TPEO altered mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia. Conclusion: It was attained magnificently that TPEO could exerts antinociceptive effects through the involvement of L-arginine/NO/cGMP/KATP signaling pathway, adrenergic, opioid, and serotonin receptors. Moreover, it is demonstrate that anti-neuropathic activity of TPEO may be mediated by inflammatory function.

Automated summary

The essential oil of Thymus persicus showed strong antinociceptive and anti-neuropathic effects in Swiss mice, involving various signaling pathways and receptors.