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Anti-nociceptive activity of a few structurally related trimethoxy flavones and possible mechanisms involved

  • Jagan Nadipelly EMAIL logo , Vijaykumar Sayeli , Parimala Kadhirvelu , Jaikumar Shanmugasundaram , Binoy Varghese Cheriyan and Viswanathan Subramanian
Published/Copyright: December 10, 2015

Abstract

Background: The present study was designed to investigate the anti-nociceptive activity of a few structurally related trimethoxy flavones (7,2′,3′-TMF, 7,2′,4′-TMF, 7,3′,4′-TMF and 7,5,4′-TMF) and the possible mechanisms involved.

Methods: Anti-nociceptive activity was evaluated in mice by employing acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced nociception and hot water tail immersion methods. The involvement of opioid, GABAergic, tryptaminergic, adrenergic and dopaminergic mechanisms and K+ATP channels in the anti-nociceptive activity of trimethoxy flavones was investigated using suitable interacting chemicals.

Results: Trimethoxy flavones exhibited a significant and dose-dependent inhibition of acetic acid writhing. The paw-licking response time was reduced both in the early and late phases of formalin nociception in a dose-dependent manner by trimethoxy flavones. A significant increase in tail withdrawal latency time was also observed after trimethoxy flavones treatment. These observations revealed the potential anti-nociceptive action of the investigated trimethoxy flavones. Pretreatment with naloxone and bicuculline significantly attenuated the reduction of abdominal constrictions produced by all the tested trimethoxy flavones indicating a definite role of opioid and GABAergic mechanisms in the anti-nociceptive effect of trimethoxy flavones. The anti-nociceptive action elicited by various trimethoxy flavones was differently modulated by glibenclamide, ondansetron, yohimbine and sulpiride.

Conclusions: The investigated trimethoxy flavones exhibited promising anti-nociceptive activity in various nociceptive models, and multiple mechanisms are involved in the anti-nociceptive activity of these compounds.


Corresponding author: Jagan Nadipelly, Meenakshi Medical College and Research Institute, Department of Pharmacology, Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research, Enathur, Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu – 631 552, India, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

The facilities extended by Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education and Research for carrying out the animal experiments are gratefully acknowledged.

Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

Research funding: None declared.

Employment or leadership: None declared.

Honorarium: None declared.

Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.

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Received: 2015-7-4
Accepted: 2015-10-13
Published Online: 2015-12-10
Published in Print: 2016-3-1

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