Abstract
The antinociceptive action of quercetin, a common bioactive flavonoid present in many medicinal plants, was assessed in different models of chemical and thermal nociception in mice. Quercetin (10–60 mg/kg, i.p. or 100–500 mg/kg, p.o.) dose-dependently inhibited nociceptive behavior in the acetic acid-induced pain test. Moreover, quercetin (10–60 mg/kg, i.p.) inhibited both phases of formalin-induced pain, with ID50 values of 374.1 (68.0–402.0) mmol/kg and 103.0 (45.0–201.0) mmol/kg, for the neurogenic and inflammatory phases, respectively. Quercetin (10–60 mg/kg) also inhibited the nociception induced by glutamate and capsaicin by 68.2% and 75.5%, respectively. Its analgesic action was significantly reversed by p-chlorophenylalanine methyl ester, katanserin, methysergide, a GABAA antagonist (bicuculline), or a GABAB antagonists (baclofen). Its action was also modulated by tachykinins, but was not affected by adrenal-gland hormones. Furthermore, the antinociceptive effects did not result from muscle-relaxant or sedative action. Together, these results indicate that quercetin produces dose-related anti-nociception in several models of chemical pain, through mechanisms that involve interaction with L-arginine-nitric oxide, serotonin, and GABAergic systems. These results confirm and extend other investigations on the analgesic effect of quercetin and its mechanisms of action.
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Filho, A.W., Filho, V.C., Olinger, L. et al. Quercetin: Further investigation of its antinociceptive properties and mechanisms of action. Arch. Pharm. Res. 31, 713–721 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-001-1217-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-001-1217-2