Antinociceptive Activity of Alpha-Pinene and Fenchone

Abstract

We aimed to investigate antinociceptive activities of some components of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., commonly known as fennel. In this study, alpha-pinene, limonene, fenchone, trans-anethol and alpha-copaene were investigated for analgesic effects in mice using tail-flick tests which is commonly employed as a pain model. The drugs were injected intraperitoneally in doses of 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 ml.kg-1. Alpha-pinene and fenchone caused significant reduction in the nociceptive threshold in the tail-flick test. The other compounds tested did not show significant analgesic effects. The motor coordination of mice treated with alpha-pinene or fenchone, evaluated by using the "rotarod" test, was not impaired. The results obtained in the present study indicate that alpha pinene and fenchone, major constituents of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil, have antinociceptive activity in tail-flick test in mice.