Essential oil from the leaves of Eugenia pohliana DC. (Myrtaceae) alleviate nociception and acute inflammation in mice

Abstract Eugenia pohliana (Myrtaceae) is used in folk medicine by communities in Brazil. However, there are no reports on its biological activity. This is the first to identify the components of E. pohliana essential oil (EpEO) and evaluate their antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in an in vivo model at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg. The essential oil (EO) was obtained by hydrodistillation, and the analysis was performed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Antinociceptive activity was evaluated by writhing tests, tail movement, and formalin (neurogenic and inflammatory pain); naloxone was used to determine the nociception mechanism. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by edema and peritonitis tests. We found that (E)-β-caryophyllene (BCP) (15.56%), δ-cadinene (11.24%) and α-cadinol (10.89%) were the major components. In the writhing test, there was a decrease in writhing by 42.95–70.70%, in the tail movement, an increase in latency time by 69.12–86.63%, and in the formalin test, there was a reduction in pain neurogenic by 29.54–61.74%, and inflammatory pain by 37.42–64.87%. The antinociceptive effect of EpEO occurs through the activation of opioid receptors. In addition to antinociceptive activity and mechanism, a reduction in inflammation by 74.93‒81.41% was observed in the paw edema test and inhibition of the influx of leukocytes by 51.86‒70.38% and neutrophils by 37.74‒54.72% in the peritonitis test. It was concluded that EpEO has antinociceptive pharmacological properties with opioid and anti-inflammatory actions, and that its use does not cause hemolytic damage or behavioral change.