Erfanparast Amir, Tamaddonfard Esmaeal, Taati Mina, Dabbaghi Milad
Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia Universiry, Urmia 57153-1177, Iran.
Avicenna J Phytomed. 2015 Sep-Oct;5(5):392-402.
Crocin and safranal are the main components of saffron, and have many biological functions such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In the present study, we investigated the effects of crocin, safranal, morphine, diclofenac and naloxone in combined and separately on formalin-induced orofacial pain in rats.
Subcutaneous injection of a diluted formalin solution (50 µl, 1.5%) into the upper lip region produced a biphasic pattern of pain response (a neurogenic phase: 0-3 min and an inflammatory phase: 15-33 min). The time each animal spent face rubbing with ipsilateral forepaw was recorded and considered as an index of nociception.
Intraperitoneal injections of crocin (12.5 and 25 mg/kg), safranal (0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg), diclofenac (5 and 10 mg/kg) and morphine (1 and 2 mg/kg) suppressed the second phase of pain. The second phase of pain was also reduced when low (ineffective) doses of crocin (6.25 mg/kg) and safranal (0.125 mg/kg) were co-administered with low doses of diclofenac (2.5 mg/kg) and morphine (0.5 mg/kg). The more antinociceptive effects were observed when the medium doses of the above-mentioned chemicals used together. Naloxone prevented morphine-induced antinociception, but did not inhibit the suppressive effects of crocin and safranal. Safranal at a high dose (0.5 mg/kg) suppressed locomotor activity.
The present results showed antinociceptive effects for crocin and safranal in inflammatory pain. Opioid receptors may not be involved in the antinociceptive effect of crocin and safranal. Crocin and safranal increased diclofenac-induced antinociception.
西红花苷和藏红花醛是藏红花的主要成分，具有多种生物学功能，如抗炎和抗氧化活性。在本研究中，我们分别及联合研究了西红花苷、藏红花醛、吗啡、双氯芬酸和纳洛酮对福尔马林诱导的大鼠面部疼痛的影响。
将稀释的福尔马林溶液（50 μl，1.5%）皮下注射到上唇区域，产生双相疼痛反应模式（神经源性阶段：0 - 3分钟；炎症阶段：15 - 33分钟）。记录每只动物用同侧前爪擦脸的时间，并将其作为伤害感受的指标。
腹腔注射西红花苷（12.5和25 mg/kg）、藏红花醛（0.25和0.5 mg/kg）、双氯芬酸（5和10 mg/kg）和吗啡（1和2 mg/kg）可抑制疼痛的第二阶段。当低剂量（无效）的西红花苷（6.25 mg/kg）和藏红花醛（0.125 mg/kg）与低剂量的双氯芬酸（2.5 mg/kg）和吗啡（0.5 mg/kg）联合使用时，疼痛的第二阶段也会减轻。当上述化学物质以中等剂量联合使用时，观察到更强的镇痛效果。纳洛酮可阻止吗啡诱导的镇痛作用，但不抑制西红花苷和藏红花醛的抑制作用。高剂量（0.5 mg/kg）的藏红花醛可抑制运动活性。
本研究结果表明西红花苷和藏红花醛对炎性疼痛具有镇痛作用。阿片受体可能不参与西红花苷和藏红花醛的镇痛作用。西红花苷和藏红花醛增强了双氯芬酸诱导的镇痛作用。
