Opioid and Nitrergic Pathways Mediate Antinociception by Pectis elongata Kunth. Essential Oil

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the antinociceptive potential of the Pectis elongata essential oil (PeEO) and to understand its mechanism of action by identifying possible pain inhibition pathways. PeEO was analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Male Swiss mice were subjected to the hot plate test to assess analgesic activity, determine the effective dose, and elucidate the pharmacological pathways involved, using specific blockers of the opioid, cholinergic, and nitric oxide pathways. Chemical analysis identified 23 compounds accounting for 95.57% of the sample, with citral (86.4%-Geranial and Neral) as the major constituent. The antinociceptive activity of PeEO was observed at a dose of 600 mg/kg, and this effect was mediated by the opioid and nitrergic pathways, as evidenced by pretreatment with L-NAME and naloxone. These findings reinforce the analgesic potential of PeEO, possibly related to its high citral content.