Abstract
The antinociceptive property of Centella asiatica extracts is known but the analgesic activity of its bioactive constituent asiaticoside
has not been reported. We evaluated the antinociceptive activity of orally (p. o.)
administered asiaticoside (1, 3, 5, and 10 mg/kg) in mice using the 0.6% acetic acid-induced
writhing test, the 2.5% formalin-induced paw licking test, and the hot plate test.
The capsaicin- and glutamate-induced paw licking tests were employed to evaluate the
involvement of the vanilloid and glutamatergic systems, respectively. Asiaticoside
(3, 5, and 10 mg/kg, p. o.) reduced the rate of writhing (p < 0.0001) by 25.3, 47.8,
and 53.9%, respectively, and increased the latency period (p < 0.05) on the hot plate
at 60 min post-treatment until the end of the experiment. Moreover, asiaticoside (3,
5, and 10 mg/kg, p. o.) shortened the time spent in licking/biting the injected paw
(p < 0.0001) in the early phase of the formalin test by 45.7, 51.4, and 52.7%, respectively,
and in the late phase (p < 0.01) by 23.6, 40.5, and 50.6%, respectively. Antinociception
induced by asiaticoside (10 mg/kg) was not antagonized by naloxone in both the 2.5%
formalin-induced nociception and the hot plate test, indicating a nonparticipation
of the opioidergic system. Asiaticoside (1, 3, 5, and 10 mg/kg, p. o.) reduced the
duration of biting/licking the capsaicin-injected paw (p < 0.0001) by 40.5, 48.2,
59.5, and 63.5%, respectively. Moreover, asiaticoside (5 and 10 mg/kg) shortened the
time spent in biting/licking the glutamate-injected paw (p < 0.01) by 29.9 and 48.6%,
respectively. Therefore, asiaticoside (5 and 10 mg/kg, p. o.) induces antinociception
possibly through the vanilloid and glutamatergic systems.
Key words
Apiaceae -
Centella asiatica
- asiaticoside - antinociception - mouse
