Antinociceptive Action of Moringa peregrina is Mediated by an Interaction with α2-Adrenergic Receptor

Abstract

Background: Moringa peregrina (M. peregrina) is an edible,drought-resistant tree that is native to semi-arid countries. It is used asa painkiller in folk medicine.Aims: To study the antinociceptive effects of the leaf extract ofM. peregrina in mice.Study Design: Animal experimentation.Methods: We employed thermal (hot plate and tail-immersion tests)and chemical (writhing and formalin tests) pain models in maleBALB/c mice (eight animals per group) to investigate the mechanismsinvolved in the antinociceptive actions of M. peregrina. Additionally,we identified the chemical constituents present in the extract ofM. peregrina by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometryanalysis, and predicted the possible active constituents that interactwith the receptor based on molecular docking simulations.Results: In the writhing test, 200 mg/kg of M. peregrina extractrestricted abdominal cramps by up to 55.97% (p