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Phytochemical composition, and analgesic and antiinflammatory properties of essential oil of <i>Chamaemelum nobile</i> (Asteraceae L All) in rodents


Olukayode O. Aremu
Charlotte M. Tata
Constance R. Sewani-Rusike
Adebola O. Oyedeji
Opeoluwa O. Oyedeji
Benedicta N. Nkeh-Chungag

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the in vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of essential oil of dried flowers of Chamaemelum nobile (Asteraceae L. All) in Swiss mice and Wistar rats, respectively.

Methods: The volatile oil of the dried flowers of C. nobile obtained by hydrodistillation was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Animals were assigned to the following experimental groups: C. nobile (180 mg/kg), ibuprofen (100 mg/kg) and vehicle-treated groups. Chemical and thermal pain models were used for the antinociceptive study in mice while fresh egg albumin-induced acute inflammation model in rats was used for anti-inflammatory study of the essential oil.

Results: The most abundant components of the oil were α-bisabolol (50 %) and farnesene (5.35 %). Oral administration of essential oil (180 mg/kg, po) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced pain and prevented inflammation in the different test models used in this study.

Conclusion: The essential oil of the dried flowers of C. nobile shows in vivo analgesic and antiinflammatory activities in rodents, and therefore, possesses potentials for development into effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Keywords: Chamaemelum nobile, Asteracea, essential oil, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive


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eISSN: 1596-9827
print ISSN: 1596-5996