Effect of matricaria recutita on acute pain in the presence and absence of sex hormones

Background: chamomile is a beneficial herbal drug that is used as an anti-inflammatory, sedative and anti-allergicagent. the mechanism of action of matricaria recutita (mr), a specious of chamomile, in nociception in male and femaleanimals is not fully understood. in this study, the sedative effect of a species of chamomile, mr, on acute pain wasinvestigated in both male and female adult mice in the presence and absence of sex hormones.methods: male and female nmri mice weighing 28 ± 3 grams were used. animals of each sex were divided into intactand gonadectomized groups. intact group received saline or mr extract (10, 30, 50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). gonadectomizedgroup contained two subgroups: a) group that received saline or mr hydro alcoholic extract (50 mg/kg,i.p.), and b) group that received sex hormones (testosterone in male mice and estradiol benzoate and progesterone infemale mice), both with and without mr extract (50mg/kg, ip). the analgesia times in all groups were evaluated by hotplate test.itesults: mr increased analgesia time both in intact and gonadectomized male and female mice, but had no effect inthe presence of pharmacological doses of testosterone (2 mg/kg, subcutaneous) in male mice, and estradiol benzoate(0.1 mg/kg, sc) and progesterone (0.5 mg/kg, sc) in female mice.