Broccoli sprouts in analgesia : preclinical in vivo studies

Abstract

Broccoli is a rich source of health-promoting glucosinolates and phenolic compounds, minerals and vitamins, which might have potential to alleviate pain. The aim of this work was to explore the antinociceptive effects of a broccoli sprouts aqueous extract (BSE) in experimental models of pain and an opioid mechanism. BSE was administered to mice and rats that were submitted to the writhing and formalin tests, respectively. Gastric damage or sedative-like response, as adverse effects observed in anti-inflammatory non-steroidal and opioid analgesic drugs, respectively, were also explored. Antinociceptive but not sedative or gastric injury response was observed in a significant and dose-dependent manner with BSE (50-500 mg/kg, i.p. and 500-2000 mg/kg, p.o.), containing 15 µmol SFN in 1 mg of BSE, in comparison to the control group resembling the effects of the analgesic tramadol (30 mg/kg, i.p.) in writhing and formalin tests. Blockage of opioid receptors by naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.) produced partial inhibition in the antinociceptive effect of BSE in both tests. This study gives evidences of the potential activity of Broccoli in the pain therapy.