Page 166 - วารสารการแพทย์แผนไทยฯ ปีที่ 19 ฉบับที่ 1

148 วารสารการแพทย์แผนไทยและการแพทย์ ทางเลือก ปีที่ 19 ฉบับที่ 1 มกราคม-เมษายน 2564

Development of Massage Oil Containing Essential Oil from Zanthoxylum
limonella Fruit and Pain Relief Effect on Calf Muscles in Healthy Volunteers

Chureeporn Imphat , Nanthakarn Woottisin
*
Department of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, School of Integrative Medicine, Mae Fah Luang University,
Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
Corresponding author: chureeporn.imp@mfu.ac.th
*

Abstract

Zanthoxylum limonella (Dennst.) Alston (ma-kwaen in Thai) is a local plant scattered all over northern
Thailand. It is a member in the Rutaceae family. Its fruit is extensively used as a spice with hot flavor and
pungent aroma in local food. Additionally, its fruit and pericarp are used as a Thai traditional household remedy
for relieving muscle pain and spasm. Studies on major chemical compositions and biological activities in vitro and
in vivo of essential oil from Z. limonella fruit have shown that the oil can inhibit inflammatory mediators and has
anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, this research aimed to develop a massage oil containing essential oil from
Z. limonella fruit and evaluate its effectiveness via pain score on calf muscles. Subjects had induced pain on both
calf muscles by standing heels raise. The study included two phases. Phase 1, developing ZLO: Z. limonella fruits
(ZLF) were collected in Chiang Rai province, sun-dried, ground as coarse powder, and then distilled in water
to obtain essential oil from fruits (EOF). The oil was analyzed for its chemical composition using the GC/MS
method. Safflower oil (SFO) was found to be the best carrier oil selected from among coconut oil (CNO), safflower
oil (SFO) and corn oil (CO) as it was most stable for preparing ZLO, which contained 3%, 6% and 9% of EOF.
Phase 2, evaluating pain relief effect on both calf muscles in healthy volunteers: The three concentrations of ZLO
were prepared for testing in three groups of subjects (20 persons per group, n = 60), respectively. In all subjects,
pain was induced on both calf muscles and then ZLO was applied on the right side and carrier oil (placebo) on the
left side every day (2 times a day, morning and evening) for 5 days. Results showed that terpinen-4-ol (19.87%),
limonene (18.62%) and sabinene (17.31%) were major chemical compounds in EOF. After the subjects in groups
1, 2 and 3 had ZLO applied at 3%, 6% and 9% EOF concentrations, respectively, the mean pain score on the right
calf was significantly lower than that on the left calf (p-value < 0.05); and the three concentrations of ZLO did
not exhibit any significant difference in pain scores on the right calf. This research confirms the use of ZLO as
ethnomedicine for relieving pain and the authors recommend using 3% concentration.
Key words: Zanthoxylum limonella, ma-kwaen, Zanthoxylum limonella fruit essential oil, ma-kwaen
massage oil, calf muscle pain

บทนำ�และวัตถุประสงค์ DC.) อาจเรียกว่า พริกหอม หรือ ก�าจัดต้น อยู่ใน
[1]
มะแขว่น (Zanthoxylum limonella (Dennst.) วงศ์ Rutaceae และพบกระจายทั่วไปในภาคเหนือ
Alston) หรือชื่อพ้อง Zanthoxylum rhetsa (Roxb.) ของประเทศ หาซื้อได้ง่ายในตลาดท้องถิ่น ส่วนผล
[2-3]