The terpenes alpha-bisabolol and camphene modulate pruritus via an action on Cav3.2 T-type calcium channels

Abstract Alpha-bisabolol and camphene have demonstrated analgesic effects in inflammatory pain models by blocking Cav3.2 calcium channels. As the pain pathway overlaps with mechanisms for itch, and because Cav3.2 channels have been associated with itch in our previous work, we aimed to investigate t...

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Main Authors: Flavia T. T. Antunes, Vinicius M. Gadotti, Gerald W. Zamponi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Molecular Brain
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13041-025-01196-9
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author Flavia T. T. Antunes
Vinicius M. Gadotti
Gerald W. Zamponi
author_facet Flavia T. T. Antunes
Vinicius M. Gadotti
Gerald W. Zamponi
author_sort Flavia T. T. Antunes
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Alpha-bisabolol and camphene have demonstrated analgesic effects in inflammatory pain models by blocking Cav3.2 calcium channels. As the pain pathway overlaps with mechanisms for itch, and because Cav3.2 channels have been associated with itch in our previous work, we aimed to investigate the potential anti-itch effects of these two terpenes. Although both terpenes failed to show anti-pruritogenic properties when dissolved in aqueous PBS, when diluted in Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin their bioactivity significantly increased. Both compounds significantly reduced scratching in the histaminergic itch model, whether administered subcutaneously or intraperitoneally. Camphene reduced itching in the non-histaminergic model regardless of the route of administration, whereas alpha-bisabolol did not alleviate chloroquine-induced itching. When tested in Cav3.2-/- mice, neither camphene nor alpha-bisabolol significantly reduced histamine-induced scratching behavior. This suggests that the anti-pruritic actions of these terpenes may involve Cav3.2 block to mitigate itch.
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spelling doaj-art-e11c4e58362f48f5bb213a31b4c6138e2025-08-20T01:48:29ZengBMCMolecular Brain1756-66062025-03-011811610.1186/s13041-025-01196-9The terpenes alpha-bisabolol and camphene modulate pruritus via an action on Cav3.2 T-type calcium channelsFlavia T. T. Antunes0Vinicius M. Gadotti1Gerald W. Zamponi2Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of CalgaryDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of CalgaryDepartment of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of CalgaryAbstract Alpha-bisabolol and camphene have demonstrated analgesic effects in inflammatory pain models by blocking Cav3.2 calcium channels. As the pain pathway overlaps with mechanisms for itch, and because Cav3.2 channels have been associated with itch in our previous work, we aimed to investigate the potential anti-itch effects of these two terpenes. Although both terpenes failed to show anti-pruritogenic properties when dissolved in aqueous PBS, when diluted in Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin their bioactivity significantly increased. Both compounds significantly reduced scratching in the histaminergic itch model, whether administered subcutaneously or intraperitoneally. Camphene reduced itching in the non-histaminergic model regardless of the route of administration, whereas alpha-bisabolol did not alleviate chloroquine-induced itching. When tested in Cav3.2-/- mice, neither camphene nor alpha-bisabolol significantly reduced histamine-induced scratching behavior. This suggests that the anti-pruritic actions of these terpenes may involve Cav3.2 block to mitigate itch.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13041-025-01196-9Alpha-bisabololCalcium channelCampheneCav3.2Itch
spellingShingle Flavia T. T. Antunes
Vinicius M. Gadotti
Gerald W. Zamponi
The terpenes alpha-bisabolol and camphene modulate pruritus via an action on Cav3.2 T-type calcium channels
Molecular Brain
Alpha-bisabolol
Calcium channel
Camphene
Cav3.2
Itch
title The terpenes alpha-bisabolol and camphene modulate pruritus via an action on Cav3.2 T-type calcium channels
title_full The terpenes alpha-bisabolol and camphene modulate pruritus via an action on Cav3.2 T-type calcium channels
title_fullStr The terpenes alpha-bisabolol and camphene modulate pruritus via an action on Cav3.2 T-type calcium channels
title_full_unstemmed The terpenes alpha-bisabolol and camphene modulate pruritus via an action on Cav3.2 T-type calcium channels
title_short The terpenes alpha-bisabolol and camphene modulate pruritus via an action on Cav3.2 T-type calcium channels
title_sort terpenes alpha bisabolol and camphene modulate pruritus via an action on cav3 2 t type calcium channels
topic Alpha-bisabolol
Calcium channel
Camphene
Cav3.2
Itch
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13041-025-01196-9
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