Distinct mechanisms underlying local antinociceptive and pronociceptive effects of natural alkylamides from Acmella oleracea compared to synthetic isobutylalkyl amide

Abstract Acmella oleracea (jambu), is used as ingredient for food and in folk medicine to relief toothache. Jambu edible flowers are rich in alkylamides, mainly spilanthol, which are responsible to evoke chemesthetic sensations. This study aimed to investigate the local effects promoted by the intraplantar injection of the hexanic fraction (HF) rich in alkylamides from jambu flowers and compare to synthetic isobutylalkyl amide (IBA). Swiss male mice were intraplantarly administrated with HF and IBA (0.1–30 μg/20 μL), and the underlying mechanisms associated to the antinociceptive (0.1 μg) and pronociceptive (30 μg) effects were evaluated in chemical and sensorial tests. HF and IBA at 0.1 μg promoted analgesia in neurogenic and inflammatory phases of formalin test, against glutamate-induced nociception and independent of the activation of endogenous opioidergic system and dependent of TRPV1 modulation, whereas only HF reduced both nociception and mast cell degranulation in hindpaw induced by compound 48/80. However, both potentiated the TRPA1-mediated nociception. In contrast, HF and IBA (30 μg)-evoked nociceptive behaviors were reduced by the activation of opioidergic system, by TRPA1 antagonist and TRP nociceptive fibers desensitization. In addition, 30 μg IBA-evoked nociception by activation of TRPV1, and 30 μg HF by mast cell degranulation. Furthermore, on the contrary of IBA, HF elevated both mechanical and thermal paw threshold. Altogether, these results indicate that alkylamides could elicited dual effects, adding new evidences and mechanisms for these opposite actions in different doses. Although further research is needed, we confirmed that alkylamides displays local analgesic and/or anesthetic effects.