Veterinary Research Forum
Vet Res Forum

Effect of curcumin on formalin-induced muscle pain in male rats: role of local cyclooxygenase system

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Nabat Naqshbandi 1
Esmaeal Tamaddonfard 2
amir erfanparast 2
Farhad Soltanalinejad 2

1 PhD Candidate, Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

2 Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2024.2015987.4069
Abstract
Investigating the mechanisms responsible for pain processing of natural and synthetic chemical compounds is necessary to optimize pain management. Curcumin (Cur), the active ingredient of turmeric, exhibits potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties by employing multiple mechanisms at the local peripheral, spinal and supra-spinal levels. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of oral administration of Cur on muscle pain induced by intramuscular (IM) injection of formalin. To explore the possible local mechanisms, a cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, diclofenac (Dic) and a COX product, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), were applied. The IM injection of formalin (25.00 µL, 2.50%) into the gastrocnemius muscle induced two distinct phases of hind leg flinching. A short-lasting (10 min) hind leg lifting was observed following IM injection of PGE2 (2 µg kg-1, 25.00 µL). Oral administration of Cur (25.00 and 100 mg kg-1) and IM injection of 40.00 µg kg-1 Dic attenuated formalin and PGE2 induced nociceptive behaviors. Contra-lateral IM injection of Dic did not change muscle pain induced by ipsilateral IM injection of formalin and PGE2. The second phase of formalin induced flinching as well as PGE2 evoked lifting were more suppressed when 40.00 µg kg-1 Dic and 100 mg kg-1 Cur were used together. Locomotor activity was not changed by the above-mentioned treatments. It was concluded that the reducing effect of muscle pain of Cur might be related to the local inhibition of COX.

Keywords

Curcumin
Cyclooxygenase
Diclofenac
Muscle pain
Prostaglandin E2

Subjects

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Veterinary Research Forum
Volume 15, Issue 8
August 2024
Pages 411-416

  • Receive Date 19 November 2023
  • Revise Date 22 February 2024
  • Accept Date 07 April 2024

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