Anethole has been reported to have
antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiinflammatory, and
anesthetic properties. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of
anethole in two
pain models of inflammatory origin: acute
inflammation induced by
carrageenan and persistent
inflammation induced by Complete
Freund's adjuvant. We evaluated the effects of
anethole (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) on the development of paw oedema and mechanical hypernociception. The liver was collected for histological analysis. Paw skin was collected to determine the levels of the
cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β),
interleukin-17 (IL-17), and
myeloperoxidase activity. Blood was collected to assess
alanine transaminase (ALT) and
aspartate transaminase (AST). The chemical composition of star anise oil was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), showing a presence of
anethole of 98.1%. Oral pretreatment with
anethole in mice inhibited paw oedema, mechanical pernociception, myelopewroxidase activity, TNF-α, IL-1β and
IL-17 levels in acute and persistent
inflammation models. Additionally,
anethole treatment did not alter
prostaglandin E2-induced mechanical hypernociception. Possible side effects were also examined. Seven-day
anethole treatment did not alter plasma AST and ALT levels, and the histological profile of liver tissue was normal. The present study provides evidence of the antiinflammatory and
analgesic activities of
anethole in acute and persistent
inflammation models.