Widespread pain reliever profile of a flower extract of Tanacetum parthenium
Abstract
Background: Tanacetum parthenium L., commonly called Feverfew, is known for anti-inflammatory and anti-migraine properties.
Purpose:
Aimed to individuate new therapeutical strategies to control acute and
persistent pain induced by different origins we tested two
hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from Feverfew flowers and leaves,
respectively.
Study Design: Extracts were
characterized according to the European Pharmacopoeia monograph. Both
the extracts were tested after acute per os administration in the dose
range 30 – 1000 mg kg−1. The anti-nociceptive properties were evaluated by the Writhing test in mice.
Results:
The number of abdominal contractions was dose dependently reduced by
the flower extract. It reduced mechanical hypersensitivity (Paw pressure
test) related to the acute inflammatory phase induced by carrageenan
similarly to Diclofenac and Ibuprofen. In the osteoarthritis model
induced by intrarticular injection of monoiodoacetate (MIA) the flower
extract significantly increased the pain threshold peaking 30 min after
treatment. Moreover, it was effective in the chronic constriction injury
model of neuropathic pain showing activity similar to the
anti-epileptic drug Gabapentin. The flower extract activity was
confirmed in rat models of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. The
mechanical hypersensitivity induced by repeated treatments with the
anticancer drug oxaliplatin and with the antiviral dideoxycytidine was
significantly reduced after a single injection of Feverfew flower
extract. The leaf extract showed lesser efficacy and potency and it was
devoid of any effect in carrageenan-, MIA- and chemotherapy-induced
pain.
Conclusion: The present Feverfew
flower extract behaves as a potent pain reliever in acute, inflammatory,
articular and neuropathic pain. It appears as a natural strategy
potentially suitable for the treatment of different kinds of pain.
Keywords
- Feverfew;
- Pain;
- Osteoarthritis;
- Neuropathic pain;
- Chemotherapy-induced neuropathy;
- Parthenolide
- Corresponding
author. Dept. of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child
Health - Neurofarba - Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of
Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139, Florence, Italy, Tel.:
+39-055-4271316, fax: +39-055-4271280
Copyright © 2015 Published by Elsevier GmbH
