The alkaloid Aspidocarpine was isolated from the bark of Aspidosperma desmanthum. Its structure was elucidated by the spectral data of ¹H and ¹³C-NMR (1D and 2D) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRESIMS). The antihypertensive activity was investigated by intravenous infusion in Wistar rats. This alkaloid significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the systolic, median, and diastolic blood pressures of rodents, without causing motor incoordination and imbalance in the rotarod test. The results indicate that the alkaloid Aspidocarpine exerts its antihypertensive activity without causing sedation or the impairment of motor functions.

Cannabigerol (CBG), a phytocannabinoid, has shown promise in pain management. Previous studies by our research group identified an increase in pain sensitivity as a consequence of prenatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in an animal model. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of CBG in acute and chronic hyperalgesia induced by prenatal HI. A pharmacological screening was first conducted using hot plate and open-field tests to evaluate the antinociceptive and locomotor activities of animals administered with a 50 mg/kg oral dose of cannabis extract with a high CBG content. Prenatal HI was induced in pregnant rats, and the offspring were used to evaluate the acute antinociceptive effect of CBG in the formalin-induced peripheral pain model, while chronic antinociceptive effects were observed through spinal nerve ligation (SNL) surgery, a model used to induce neuropathic pain. Our results show that CBG exhibited an antinociceptive effect in the hot plate test without affecting the animals’ motor function in the open-field test. CBG significantly reduced formalin-induced reactivity in HI offspring during both the neurogenic and inflammatory phases. CBG treatment alleviated thermal and mechanical hypernociception induced by SNL. Biomolecular analysis revealed CBG’s ability to modulate expression, particularly reducing TNFα and Nav1.7 in HI male and female rats, respectively. These results highlight CBG as a potential antinociceptive agent in acute and chronic pain models, suggesting it as a promising therapeutic option without inducing motor impairment. Further research is needed to fully elucidate its mechanisms and clinical applications in pain management.

Background/Objectives: The expanding focus on novel therapeutic pathways for long-term pain relief has directed interest toward compounds obtained from Cannabis sativa. This study evaluated the antinociceptive potential of cannabigerol-enriched extract (CBG) in models of acute and chronic hypernociception, along with morphological outcomes. Methods: Formalin and hot plate tests were used on male Swiss mice to assess acute oral antinociception. To the chronic pain model, 8-week-old male Wistar rats underwent spinal nerve ligation (SNL), and CBG was administered orally by gavage once daily for 14 days. Results: CBG reduced nociceptive responses in the formalin test and hot plate tests, mainly at a dose of 30 mg/kg, showing antinociceptive activity. CBG attenuated SNL-induced thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity, accompanied by reduced microglial density and spinal morphological changes. Importantly, cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) signaling contributed to the antinociceptive effects of orally administered CBG, whereas cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R), Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) did not appear to play major roles under our experimental conditions. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings support CBG as a promising alternative for chronic pain management.

With the strengthening of human-animal interaction and the scientific recognition of sentience, there has been a significant increase in the perception of atypical behaviors in companion animals, as observed by legal guardians and veterinarians. In general terms, such changes occur due to excessive humanization, stress, fear, or inappropriate environments, leading to variations in temperament, emotional dependency, and/or inhibition of species-specific natural behaviors. The class of psychotropic drugs offers pharmacological treatment for the mental state of these animals by modulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacological impact of psychotropic drugs on the social development and emotional resilience of these animals, in conjunction with behavioral therapy. For this purpose, domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) diagnosed with compulsive disorders secondary to other behavioral dysfunctions were treated with trazodone hydrochloride (Group 1) and extracts from Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms (Group 2), and compared to conventional treatment with fluoxetine hydrochloride. The animals were diagnosed and evaluated using questionnaires aimed at diagnosing and monitoring the evolution of treatment, based on the literature referenced in this study. Atypical behaviors associated with primary and secondary disorders were mitigated or eliminated in Group 1 (n=4), Group 2 (n=4), and the conventional treatment group. However, fluoxetine hydrochloride showed a reduction in appetite as a side effect.