The Additive Antinociceptive Effect of Resveratrol and Ketorolac in the Formalin Test in Mice

Abstract

Pain represents one of the leading causes of suffering and disability worldwide. Currently available drugs cannot treat all types of pain and may have adverse effects. Hence, the use of pharmacological combinations is an alternative treatment strategy. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the combination of resveratrol and ketorolac through isobolographic analysis. CD1 mice were used to study the antinociceptive effect of this combination using the formalin test and the study was divided into two phases. In the first phase, four individual doses of each drug were evaluated, totaling eight testing groups. From these data, the median effective doses (ED50) of each drug were calculated. In the second phase, four testing groups were used to evaluate the combination of sub-doses of both drugs and obtain the experimental ED50. To evaluate gastric damage, five groups were employed, including indomethacin, vehicle, resveratrol, ketorolac, and combined resveratrol and ketorolac groups. Stomach samples from the mice were taken after 5 h of treatment, and the area of the ulcers was determined. Resveratrol plus ketorolac elicited a reduction in nociceptive behavior during both phases of the formalin test, and isobologram analysis revealed that the theoretical and experimental ED50 values of resveratrol and ketorolac did not differ significantly, implying an additive interaction between the drugs. Additionally, the drug combination did not generate gastric ulcers, thus enhancing the desired effects without increasing the adverse effects. Consequently, these findings substantiate the efficacy of the resveratrol and ketorolac combination in the formalin test, thereby highlighting its potential as a viable alternative for alleviating pain.