A comparative study on the analgesic properties of five members of Lamiaceae family using two pain models

Alternative medicine is widely used to replace a variety of commonly prescribed synthetic drugs in order to achieve a state of substantial efficacy with considerably less adverse effects. The present work has focused on the comparative evaluation of the analgesic efficacy of five members of Lamiaceae family to prioritize their potentials to be used herein.

Two common models of pain studies including the hot-plate and tail-flick tests were used to compare the analgesic properties of Thymus vulgaris, Mentha piperita, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureja hortensis, and Mentha pulegium essential oils (EOs) at two doses of 0.5 and 1 cc per animal.

Significant increase in the response times of both tests were recorded compared to the control group following the administration of the EOs with the order of potency T. vulgaris 1 mL > T. vulgaris (0.5 mL) > M. piperita (1 mL) > M. piperita (0.5 mL) > R. officinalis (1 mL) > R. officinalis (0.5 mL).

Although all studied EOs showed some extents of anti-nociceptive properties; however, T. vulgaris and M. piperita demonstrated the highest potential for pain management due to their rapid onset, long-lasting and steady mode of action. Their more potent anti-nociceptive effects in comparison to R. officinalis with previously proven analgesic efficacy, further supports this idea.