Abstract The chemical composition of crushed fruits and aerial parts essential oil, hydrodistilled from Pistacia atlantica DESF., were studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, a significant difference in their chemical compositions were observed. The analgesic activity was carried out with the essential oil for its peripheral and central antinociceptive potentials on acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion test in rodents, respectively. The analgesic activity of Pistacia atlantica DESF. Essential oil was found to be significant (P<0.05) on acetic acid induced model, as well as the tail immersion test. From this study we can conclude that Pistacia atlantica DESF. from Morocco possess significantly high analgesic property without any acute toxicity. The results indicate that the analgesic effect of this plant is both centrally and peripherally mediated.
Keywords Analgesic activity, Essential oil, GC/MS, Pistacia atlantica DESF, Rodents.