Analgesic potential of marrubiin derivatives, a bioactive diterpene present in Marrubium vulgare (Lamiaceae)

Farmaco. 2005 Apr;60(4):321-6. doi: 10.1016/j.farmac.2005.01.003.

Abstract

Marrubiin, a furane labdane diterpene, is the main analgesic compound present in Marrubium vulgare, a medicinal plant used in Brazil and other countries to treat several ailments. Considering its important pharmacological action, as well as its high yield, some structural modifications were performed in order to obtain more active compounds. Success was obtained in reducing the lactonic function, in the formation of marrubiinic acid and two esterified derivatives, which exhibited significant analgesic effect against the writhing test in mice. Marrubiinic acid showed better activity and excellent yield, and its analgesic effect was confirmed in other experimental models of pain in mice, suggesting its possible use as a model to obtain new and potent analgesic agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / chemical synthesis*
  • Analgesics / isolation & purification
  • Analgesics / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Diterpenes / chemical synthesis*
  • Diterpenes / isolation & purification
  • Diterpenes / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Marrubium / chemistry*
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Diterpenes
  • marrubiin