Investigation of the Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Β-Caryophyllene

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of β-caryophyllene (trons-caryophyllene) in rats and mice. In our previous work, we demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activity of Eugenia caryophyllata essential oil. We performed this study in order to determine the component(s) (such as eugenol, β-caryophyllene, α-humuiene, eugenyl acetate) responsible for these activities. For the anti-inflammatory activity measurement, five different groups were established and β-caryophyllene was administered in three different doses: 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 ml/kg. Etodolac was used as reference agent. For the analgesic activity measurement, four different groups were established and β-caryophyllene was administered in two different doses: 0.05 and 0.1 ml/kg. Morphine was used as reference agent. Etodolac showed the strongest anti-inflammatory activity among the drugs used.The strongest anti-inflammatory activity of β-caryophyllene was seen with 0.1 ml/kg dosage. The median effective dose (ED50) value of β-caryophyllene was found to be 0.0745 ml/kg. Morphine showed the strongest analgesic activity, but β-caryophyllene did not show analgesic activity at any of the dosages. As a result, it is concluded that β-caryophyllene is a molecule having anti-inflammatory activity, but with no analgesic properties. © Essential Oil Resource Consultants. All rights reserved.