Anti-inflammatory and Antinociceptive Activities of the Hydroalcoholic Extract and the Volatile Fraction of Southeastern Brazilian Brown Propolis

The analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of a Southeastern Brazilian brown propolis were evaluated using the formalin test and carrageenan-induced mechanical hypernociception. The hydroalcoholic extract and the volatile fraction were evaluated at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg. In the formalin test, the crude extract reduced the response by 73, 83, and 89% for the first phase and 48, 65, and 75% for the second phase, respectively. The volatile fraction reduced the response by 75, 94, and 99% and 30, 53, and 91% for the first and second phases. For the carrageenan test, the hydroalcoholic extract and volatile fraction showed mechanical sensitization reductions of 57, 67, and 79% and 62, 79, and 88%, respectively, after 48 h. Indomethacin and morphine showed inhibitions of 42 and 88%, respectively. In the tail-flick assay, the results showed evidence of analgesic activities; the animals treated with crude extract increased the nociceptive threshold by 58 ± 8% and 70 ± 6% and 77 ± 10%, respectively, for evaluated doses, and 55 ± 6% and 73 ± 7% and 82 ± 14% for the volatile fraction, compared with control. The coadministration of naloxone altered the antinociceptive effect of morphine and propolis, suggesting that brown propolis has an action on the central nervous system.