Antinociceptive effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Passiflora incarnata L. in an animal model of hyperalgesia induced by acute and chronic immobilization stress
- 1Neuroscience Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Golestan University of Medical Science, Gorgan, Iran
Abstract
Background: Stress and pain are overlapping processes and exert bidirectional influences. Passiflora incarnata (passionflower) is a perennial plant that has long been used for its therapeutic effects. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that Passiflora incarnata L. extract exerts a protective effect against stress-induced hyperalgesia. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 9 groups (n=6): the control group (no stress, no treatment), 2 PFE-only groups that received PFE (100 or 200 mg/kg) for 21 days without stress, an acute stress group (6 h restraint), a chronic stress group (6 h/day for 21 days), and stress groups orally pretreated with PFE (100 or 200 mg/kg) 1 hour before each stress session (1-day treatment for the acute protocol and 21 days for the chronic protocol). The thermal pain threshold was evaluated using the hot-plate test (52±0.5°C), and chemical nociception was assessed using the formalin test. All behavioral tests were conducted 24 h after the final stress session. Results: Stress (acute/chronic) elevated chemical (p<0.01–p<0.001) and thermal (p<0.001) nociception versus controls. PFE (both doses) reversed chemical hyperalgesia at 0–7 min (p<0.01/p<0.001) and 15–60 min (p<0.001) versus acute stress; only the high dose was effective during the 60–90 min phase versus chronic stress (p<0.01). In addition, PFE (100 mg/kg) reversed thermal hyperalgesia versus acute stress, and both doses alleviated hyperalgesia versus chronic stress (p<0.001). Conclusion: This research evaluates the potential modulatory role of Passiflora incarnata extract in pain perception under stress conditions, which may have implications for the management of stress-related pain disorders.
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BibTeX
@article{hesam2026antinociceptive,
title = {{Antinociceptive effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Passiflora incarnata L. in an animal model of hyperalgesia induced by acute and chronic immobilization stress}},
author = {Soghra Hesam and Fatemeh Piri and Hamid Sepehri},
journal = {Journal of Clinical and Basic Research},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Antinociceptive effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Passiflora incarnata L. in an animal model of hyperalgesia induced by acute and chronic immobilization stress
AU - Soghra Hesam
AU - Fatemeh Piri
AU - Hamid Sepehri
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/01
JO - Journal of Clinical and Basic Research
AB - Background: Stress and pain are overlapping processes and exert bidirectional influences. Passiflora incarnata (passionflower) is a perennial plant that has long been used for its therapeutic effects. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that Passiflora incarnata L. extract exerts a protective effect against stress-induced hyperalgesia. Methods: Adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 9 groups (n=6): the control group (no stress, no treatment), 2 PFE-only groups that received PFE (100 or 200 mg/kg) for 21 days without stress, an acute stress group (6 h restraint), a chronic stress group (6 h/day for 21 days), and stress groups orally pretreated with PFE (100 or 200 mg/kg) 1 hour before each stress session (1-day treatment for the acute protocol and 21 days for the chronic protocol). The thermal pain threshold was evaluated using the hot-plate test (52±0.5°C), and chemical nociception was assessed using the formalin test. All behavioral tests were conducted 24 h after the final stress session. Results: Stress (acute/chronic) elevated chemical (p<0.01–p<0.001) and thermal (p<0.001) nociception versus controls. PFE (both doses) reversed chemical hyperalgesia at 0–7 min (p<0.01/p<0.001) and 15–60 min (p<0.001) versus acute stress; only the high dose was effective during the 60–90 min phase versus chronic stress (p<0.01). In addition, PFE (100 mg/kg) reversed thermal hyperalgesia versus acute stress, and both doses alleviated hyperalgesia versus chronic stress (p<0.001). Conclusion: This research evaluates the potential modulatory role of Passiflora incarnata extract in pain perception under stress conditions, which may have implications for the management of stress-related pain disorders.
SN - 2538-3736
ER -