Background: Essential oils are of great interest for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. We aimed to study the content of the essential oil of the Origanum vulgare of the Armenian highlands (OVA) in different periods of vegetation and to investigate its antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in mice (in vivo) and cytotoxic action in cultured cells (in vitro). OVA essential oil was extracted from fresh plant material by hydro-distillation. Methods: For OVA essential oil contents determination the gas chromatographymass spectrometry method was used. Formalin and hot plate tests and analysis of cell viability using the methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay were used. Results: The maximal content of β-caryophyllene and β-caryophyllene oxide in OVA essential oil was revealed in the period of blossoming (8.18% and 13.36%, correspondently). In the formalin test, 4% OVA essential oil solution (3.5 mg/mouse) exerts significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects (P = 0.003). MTT assay shows approximately 60% cytotoxicity in HeLa and Vero cells for 2.0 μL/mL OVA essential oil in media. Conclusions The wild oregano herb of Armenian highlands, harvested in the blossoming period, may be considered as a valuable source for developing pain-relieving preparations.

Background: To relieve acute and inflammatory pain, preparations of plant and animal origin have been used. The present work aimed to study the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effectiveness of a combined preparation based on viper venom and essential oil. Determining effective routes of exposure, optimal doses, the duration of action of the preparation, and possible mechanisms of their action were the areas of interest. Methods: Experiments were carried out on murine. Essential oil content was determined by gas chromatography– mass spectrometry equipment. The formalin, carrageenan, and hot plate tests were used. Certain methods for determining side effects were used as well. To determine the participation of cannabinoid and opioid receptors in the antinociceptive action of combined preparation, SR144528 and naloxone were used. Results: The treatment of the ointment version of the preparation reduced inflammatory pain by more than 68% and decreased the volume of inflammatory edema by up to 36%. The involvement of cannabinoid receptors in the analgesic mechanism of the ointment was approximately 73%, and, for the opioid receptors, about 64%. Physiologically significant side effects were not observed. Conclusions The active components of the ointment are principally different in their mechanism of action and make it possible to relieve pain and inflammation both through the blockade of pain receptors of afferent nociceptive neurons (venom) as well as via cannabinoid and opioid receptors (essential oil).

Background: To relieve acute and inflammatory pain, preparations of plant and animal origin have been used. The present work aimed to study the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effectiveness of a combined preparation based on viper venom and essential oil. Determining effective routes of exposure, optimal doses, the duration of action of the preparation, and possible mechanisms of their action were the areas of interest. Methods: Experiments were carried out on murine. Essential oil content was determined by gas chromatography– mass spectrometry equipment. The formalin, carrageenan, and hot plate tests were used. Certain methods for determining side effects were used as well. To determine the participation of cannabinoid and opioid receptors in the antinociceptive action of combined preparation, SR144528 and naloxone were used. Results: The treatment of the ointment version of the preparation reduced inflammatory pain by more than 68% and decreased the volume of inflammatory edema by up to 36%. The involvement of cannabinoid receptors in the analgesic mechanism of the ointment was approximately 73%, and, for the opioid receptors, about 64%. Physiologically significant side effects were not observed. Conclusions The active components of the ointment are principally different in their mechanism of action and make it possible to relieve pain and inflammation both through the blockade of pain receptors of afferent nociceptive neurons (venom) as well as via cannabinoid and opioid receptors (essential oil).

Background: To relieve acute and inflammatory pain, preparations of plant and animal origin have been used. The present work aimed to study the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effectiveness of a combined preparation based on viper venom and essential oil. Determining effective routes of exposure, optimal doses, the duration of action of the preparation, and possible mechanisms of their action were the areas of interest. Methods: Experiments were carried out on murine. Essential oil content was determined by gas chromatography– mass spectrometry equipment. The formalin, carrageenan, and hot plate tests were used. Certain methods for determining side effects were used as well. To determine the participation of cannabinoid and opioid receptors in the antinociceptive action of combined preparation, SR144528 and naloxone were used. Results: The treatment of the ointment version of the preparation reduced inflammatory pain by more than 68% and decreased the volume of inflammatory edema by up to 36%. The involvement of cannabinoid receptors in the analgesic mechanism of the ointment was approximately 73%, and, for the opioid receptors, about 64%. Physiologically significant side effects were not observed. Conclusions The active components of the ointment are principally different in their mechanism of action and make it possible to relieve pain and inflammation both through the blockade of pain receptors of afferent nociceptive neurons (venom) as well as via cannabinoid and opioid receptors (essential oil).

Background: To relieve acute and inflammatory pain, preparations of plant and animal origin have been used. The present work aimed to study the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effectiveness of a combined preparation based on viper venom and essential oil. Determining effective routes of exposure, optimal doses, the duration of action of the preparation, and possible mechanisms of their action were the areas of interest. Methods: Experiments were carried out on murine. Essential oil content was determined by gas chromatography– mass spectrometry equipment. The formalin, carrageenan, and hot plate tests were used. Certain methods for determining side effects were used as well. To determine the participation of cannabinoid and opioid receptors in the antinociceptive action of combined preparation, SR144528 and naloxone were used. Results: The treatment of the ointment version of the preparation reduced inflammatory pain by more than 68% and decreased the volume of inflammatory edema by up to 36%. The involvement of cannabinoid receptors in the analgesic mechanism of the ointment was approximately 73%, and, for the opioid receptors, about 64%. Physiologically significant side effects were not observed. Conclusions The active components of the ointment are principally different in their mechanism of action and make it possible to relieve pain and inflammation both through the blockade of pain receptors of afferent nociceptive neurons (venom) as well as via cannabinoid and opioid receptors (essential oil).

Background: To relieve acute and inflammatory pain, preparations of plant and animal origin have been used. The present work aimed to study the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effectiveness of a combined preparation based on viper venom and essential oil. Determining effective routes of exposure, optimal doses, the duration of action of the preparation, and possible mechanisms of their action were the areas of interest. Methods: Experiments were carried out on murine. Essential oil content was determined by gas chromatography– mass spectrometry equipment. The formalin, carrageenan, and hot plate tests were used. Certain methods for determining side effects were used as well. To determine the participation of cannabinoid and opioid receptors in the antinociceptive action of combined preparation, SR144528 and naloxone were used. Results: The treatment of the ointment version of the preparation reduced inflammatory pain by more than 68% and decreased the volume of inflammatory edema by up to 36%. The involvement of cannabinoid receptors in the analgesic mechanism of the ointment was approximately 73%, and, for the opioid receptors, about 64%. Physiologically significant side effects were not observed. Conclusions The active components of the ointment are principally different in their mechanism of action and make it possible to relieve pain and inflammation both through the blockade of pain receptors of afferent nociceptive neurons (venom) as well as via cannabinoid and opioid receptors (essential oil).