Antinociceptive activity of discretamine isolated from Duguetia moricandiana

The phytochemical study of Duguetia moricandiana Mart. (Annonaceae) yielded the isolation of the alkaloid which was identified by spectral analysis as discretamine. The evaluation of antinociceptive activity carried out by the acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin and hot plate tests in mice, suggests a potent antinociceptive effect. Discretamine (5, 10 and 20?mg?kg?1, i.p.) significantly reduced the number of writhes similarly at all doses tested and the number of paw licks during the first phase of formalin test when compared to control. The effect of discretamine on hot plate response provides a confirmation of its central effect. These results indicate antinociceptive properties of this alkaloid.     

Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activity of Total Flavone of <em>Cunninghamia lanceolata</em>

The present study was undertaken to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of total flavone of branches and leaves of Cunninghamia lanceolata (TFC) to provide a scientific basis for its clinical use and resource development. TFC was evaluated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity in mice or rats using chemical and thermal models of nociception, including acetic acid-induced writhing test, hot plate latency test, formalin test and carrageenan induced paw oedema test. Results showed that TFC given orally can significantly attenuate acetic acid-induced writhing in mice in a dose-dependent manner. In the hot plate latency test, TFC showed common activity in prolonging duration time only at the highest dose (400 mg/kg). Each dose of TFC could not significantly inhibit the first phase but was active in the later phase of formalin-induced pain, whereas morphine showed notable activity in the two phases. In the carrageenan-induced paw oedema model, TFC could significantly and dose-dependently reduce the carrageenan-induced paw edema at the third and fifth hour, and decrease the content of PEG₂ in paw edema tissue and that of COX-2 in blood serum. It may be concluded that TFC showed both anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, showing that it can be of importance in drug development, especially in the field of pain and inflammation.     

Biosynthesis of copperoxide nanoparticles using Abies spectabilis plant extract and analyzing its antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potency in various mice models

Nanotechnology has shown rapid progress in various fields had made a remarkable change in the field of therapeutics too. The present study aims to synthesize and characterize the eco-friendly biocompatible copper oxide nanoparticles using Abies spectabilis plant extract (AS-CuONPs) and inspect its ameliorative potential against the different stimuli induced nociception and inflammatory reactions in mice. The formulated AS-CuONPs were characterized via the UV–vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, and TEM analysis. The nociception was induced by the method of acetic acid, glutamate, capsaicin, formalin, and thermal-induced techniques. The anti-inflammatory property of AS-CuONPs with carrageenan induced paw edema, peritoneal leukocyte infiltration, and carrageenan induced air pouch tests. Our result of UV–Visible spectroscopic analysis confirms the formation of AS-CuONPs and the characterization with FTIR and TEM proves the same. The result of various stimuli induced nociception models provide the evidence that formulated AS-CuONPs effectively inhibits the nociceptive responses in mice. Further the infiltration of leukocytes and inflammatory cytokines were drastically decreased by the AS-CuONPs treatment in the mice. The open field analysis confirms that the AS-CuONPs doesn’t impart any behavioral changes in mice. Over all our results confirms that AS-CuONPs is effective against different stimuli induced nociception and it act as a potent anti-inflammatory agent without rendering any side effects.     

Evaluation of the Antinociceptive,Antiallodynic, Antihyperalgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Polyalthic Acid

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are very commonly used, but their adverse effects warrant investigating new therapeutic alternatives. Polyalthic acid, a labdane-type diterpenoid, is known to produce gastroprotection, tracheal smooth muscle relaxation, and antitumoral, antiparasitic and antibacterial activity. This study aimed to evaluate the antinociceptive, antiallodynic, antihyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of polyalthic acid on rats. Moreover, the effectiveness of treating hyperalgesia with a combination of polyalthic acid and naproxen was analyzed, as well as the type of drug–drug interaction involved. Nociception was examined by injecting 1% formalin into the right hind paw and thermal hyperalgesia and inflammation by injecting a 1% carrageenan solution into the left hind paw of rats. Allodynia was assessed on an L5/L6 spinal nerve ligation model. Polyalthic acid generated significant antinociceptive (56–320 mg/kg), antiallodynic (100–562 mg/kg), and antihyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory (10–178 mg/kg) effects. Antinociception mechanisms were explored by pretreating the rats with naltrexone, ODQ and methiothepin, finding the effect blocked by the former two compounds, which indicates the participation of opioid receptors and guanylate cyclase. An isobolographic analysis suggests synergism between polyalthic acid and naproxen in the combined treatment of hyperalgesia.     

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oil of Nepeta crispa Willd. in experimental rat models

This study was conducted to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oil of Nepeta crispa. The study was done using the tail-flick and formalin test pain models and the paw oedema model of inflammation. Male Wistar rats were used as the animal model. The essential oil dose-dependently produced analgesia in the acute pain models, including the tail-flick (p?相似文献   

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Alkanna bracteosa and Alkanna tricophila

Alkanna bracteosa and Alkanna tricophila, Boraginaceae, have been reported to be useful for their anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects in traditional medicine. Methanol extracts of A. bracteosa and A. tricophila were evaluated for their potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Alkanna bracteosa was observed to produce a maximum of 42% reduction of hind paw licking in acute as well as 68% alleviation in inflammatory phase of formalin test in mice and about 30% declination of carrageenan-induced rats paw swelling at doses 100-400?mg?kg?1 in comparison to negative control; on the other hand, A. tricophila required at least 200?mg?kg?1 to exhibit a significant reduction in paw licking or oedemas at the early phase of formalin test and the late phase of carrageenan test, respectively. Our results suggest that the extracts may be of use for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.     

Determination of elements in algae by different atomic spectroscopic methods

The chemistry of substances derived from plants has received a great deal of attention in the last several decades. Today, natural products and their synthetic analogs also play an important role in the pharmaceutical and food industry. Several interesting reviews on algae were published in the last 10 years. Algae, especially the red algae, are very helpful in every day practice in many fields, e.g. algal polysaccharides, agar, carrageenan and some algae extracts are used in agricultural, medicines and in food products, respectively (The Constituents of Red Algae, 1999; Gelling Hydrocolloids in Food Products Applications, 1979, p. 186; Marine Natural Products Chemistry, 1997, p. 337; Algae Polysaccharides, 1983, p. 195). The biological and pharmaceutical properties promote interest among chemists to focus their attention on algae, as yet, a wide open field (Synthesis and Proceedings of the Second EUMAC Workshop, Marine Eutrophication and Bentic Macrophytes, p. 2). The most extensively studied algal phyla are Chlorophyceae (green algae) (J. Phycol. 26 (1990) 670), Rhodophyceae (red algae) (J. Phycol. 25 (1989) 522) and Phaeophyceae (brown algae) (J. Phycol. 31 (1995) 325; J. Phycol. 32 (1996) 614). Concentrations of four elements (Ca, Mg, K, Na) were determined in the above-mentioned algal phyla by different atomic spectroscopic methods (F-AES, ICP-AES) after the digestion of algal samples with cc. HNO₃ in a microwave apparatus. Not only the Ca and Mg contents, but the ratio of the calcium to magnesium was calculated in every case. This ratio was lower (0.5–0.8) in green algae than in the red and brown algae (1.3–14.4). Therefore, the green algae are better magnesium sources than the red and brown. The elemental composition is of great importance in the ion system of human organism. It is usually characterized by the ion quotient ([Ca²⁺]+[Na⁺]:[Mg²⁺]+[K⁺]), which is approximately 1.0 under ideal conditions. However, in the human body this mole ratio generally varies between 2.5 and 4.0. The ion quotient was calculated by averaging between 1 and 2 in different algal phyla. This means that the 2.5–4.0 mole ratio can be decreased by different algal foods in the human organism.     

Composition,structural characteristics,and antitumor properties of polysaccharides from the brown algae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dictyopteris polypodioides</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sargassum</Emphasis> sp.

The polysaccharide compositions of the brown algae Dictyopteris polypodioides and Sargassum sp. from the Mediterranean Sea were determined. The principal polysaccharide of the studied algae (about 12% of the dry alga weight) was alginic acid. The content of water-soluble polysaccharides was low. The amount of fucoidan was less than 1% of the dry alga weight; of neutral polysaccharides, less than 0.25%. The monosaccharide compositions of fucoidans and neutral polysaccharides were investigated. Experiments on soft agar-agar models showed that fucoidans from D. polypodioides and Sargassum sp. exhibited antitumor activity against RPMI-7951 human melanoma cells.     

Synergistic antinociceptive activity of combined aqueous extracts of Artemisia campestris and Artemisia herba-alba in several acute pain models

In this study, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, acute toxicity and the antinociceptive activity of Artemisia campestris and Artemisia herba-alba, individually and in combination, were investigated using multiple forms of pain in animals. Our results have been shown that plants are relatively safe without clinical signs of toxicity in animals. Thus, extracts were presented high levels in phenolic and flavonoid contents. Artemisia decoctions with 100, 200, 400 mg/kg b-w studied dose, clearly attenuate chemical and thermal noxious stimuli in writhing, formalin and hot-plate tests, and significantly reduced paw oedema in formalin test. Additionally, binary combination forms exhibited a great improvement in intensity and amplitude of antinociceptive activity in comparison with both plants used individually by a relative interference with opioid system. Our findings suggested the central and peripheral analgesic properties and confirmed the folkloric medicinal use of these plants in pain symptom treatment.     

Antinociceptive profile of 2,3,6-trisubstituted piperidine alkaloids: 3-O-acetyl-spectaline and semi-synthetic derivatives of (-)-spectaline

In early studies, we have reported the antinociceptive profile of (-)-spectaline, a piperidine alkaloid from Cassia spectabilis. The present study describes the synthesis, the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of a series of 2,3,6-trialkyl-piperidine alkaloids: the natural (-)-3-O-acetyl-spectaline (LASSBio-755) and ten semi-synthetic spectaline derivatives. Structure-activity relationship (SARs) studies were performed. The structures of all synthesized derivatives were confirmed by means of nuclear magnetic resonance. Compounds were evaluated for their analgesic (acetic acid-induced mouse abdominal constrictions, hot-plate test, formalin-induced pain test) and some of them for the anti-inflammatory activities (carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test). The pharmacological results showed that several of the new compounds given orally at a dose of 100 micromol/kg significantly inhibited the acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions, but they were less active than (-)-spectaline. LASSBio-755 and LASSBio-776 were the most actives with 37% and 31.7% of inhibition. In the formalin-induced pain only LASSBio-776 was able to inhibit by 34.4% the paw licking response of the inflammatory phase, (-)-spectaline and LASSBio-755 did show any activity. In the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, only (-)-spectaline exhibited an anti-inflammatory profile, showing an ED(50) value of 56.6 micromol/kg. Our results suggest different mechanisms of action for the analgesic activity observed for LASSBio-776 (3-O-Boc-spectaline), LASSBio-755 (3-O-acetyl-spectaline) and (-)-spectaline (LASSBio-754). The antinociceptive profile of some of the semi-synthetic spectaline derivatives extends our research concerning the chemical and pharmacological optimization of isolated natural products in the search of new drug candidates from Brazilian biodiversity.     

Anti-inflammatory effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with two different red wavelengths (660 nm and 684 nm) in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema

It has been suggested that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) can modulate inflammatory processes. The aim of this experiment was to investigate what effects red laser irradiation with two different wavelengths (660 nm and 684 nm) on carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and histology. Thirty two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups. One group received a sterile saline injection, while inflammation was induced by a sub-plantar injection of carrageenan (1 mg/paw) in the three other groups. After 1 h, LLLT was administered to the paw in two of the carrageenan-injected groups. Continuous wave 660 nm and 684 nm red lasers respectively with mean optical outputs of 30 mW and doses of 7.5 J/cm(2) were used. The 660 nm and 684 nm laser groups developed significantly (p<0.01) less edema (0.58 ml [SE+/-0.17] ml and 0.76 ml [SE+/-0.10] respectively) than the control group (1.67 ml [SE+/-0.19]) at 4h after injections. Similarly, both laser groups showed a significantly lower number of inflammatory cells in the muscular and conjunctive sub-plantar tissues than the control group. We conclude that both 660 nm and 684 nm red wavelengths of LLLT are effective in reducing edema formation and inflammatory cell migration when a dose of 7.5 J/cm(2) is used.     

Antinociceptive Efficacy of the µ-Opioid/Nociceptin Peptide-Based Hybrid KGNOP1 in Inflammatory Pain without Rewarding Effects in Mice: An Experimental Assessment and Molecular Docking

Opioids are the most effective analgesics, with most clinically available opioids being agonists to the µ-opioid receptor (MOR). The MOR is also responsible for their unwanted effects, including reward and opioid misuse leading to the current public health crisis. The imperative need for safer, non-addictive pain therapies drives the search for novel leads and new treatment strategies. In this study, the recently discovered MOR/nociceptin (NOP) receptor peptide hybrid KGNOP1 (H-Dmt-D-Arg-Aba-β-Ala-Arg-Tyr-Tyr-Arg-Ile-Lys-NH₂) was evaluated following subcutaneous administration in mouse models of acute (formalin test) and chronic inflammatory pain (Complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced paw hyperalgesia), liabilities of spontaneous locomotion, conditioned place preference, and the withdrawal syndrome. KGNOP1 demonstrated dose-dependent antinociceptive effects in the formalin test, and efficacy in attenuating thermal hyperalgesia with prolonged duration of action. Antinociceptive effects of KGNOP1 were reversed by naltrexone and SB-612111, indicating the involvement of both MOR and NOP receptor agonism. In comparison with morphine, KGNOP1 was more potent and effective in mouse models of inflammatory pain. Unlike morphine, KGNOP1 displayed reduced detrimental liabilities, as no locomotor impairment nor rewarding and withdrawal effects were observed. Docking of KGNOP1 to the MOR and NOP receptors and subsequent 3D interaction pattern analyses provided valuable insights into its binding mode. The mixed MOR/NOP receptor peptide KGNOP1 holds promise in the effort to develop new analgesics for the treatment of various pain states with fewer MOR-mediated side effects, particularly abuse and dependence liabilities.     

A Laccase/Chitosan‐Lambda‐Carrageenan Based Voltammetric Biosensor for Phenolic Compound Detection

In this contribution, a new concept of voltammetric catechol biosensor, based on the encapsulation of laccase (LAC) in a chitosan+lambda‐carrageenan (CHIT+CAR) polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) employing a simple coacervation process is presented. Chitosan (CHIT) was prepared from α‐chitin extracted from shrimp shells and lambda‐carrageenan (CAR) was extracted from red algae, both polysaccharides and PEC being characterized using FTIR spectrometry and electrochemistry. Cyclic voltammetry was utilized to determine the analytical features of the laccase (LAC) biosensor for catechol detection. The linear range was from 10^?20 M to 10^?14 M with a sensitivity of 1.55 mA/p[catechol] and a limit of detection of 3×10^?21 M.The laccase biosensor exhibits good repeatability (RSD 2.38 %) and stability (four weeks). The developed biosensor was tested by applying it to the evaluation of the total polyphenolic content in natural oil samples.     

Anti-inflammatory and Antinociceptive Activity of Chitin-binding Lectin from Canna Limbata Seeds

Lectins are a structurally heterogeneous group of proteins or glycoproteins with at least one noncatalytic domain binding reversibly to a specific mono- or oligosaccharide. Monocot mannose-binding lectins are an extended superfamily of structurally and evolutionarily related proteins. In this study, we evaluated anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of monocot lectin from the Canna limbata seeds (CLL). To accomplish this, CLL was purified and subjected to pharmacological assays: abdominal writhing induced by acetic acid, formalin, hot plate and Zymosan A-induced peritonitis tests. The CLL was purified by chromatographic chitin column, and the relative mass of 21 kDa observed in electrophoresis was confirmed by electrospray mass spectrometry, which also revealed that purified CLL consists of a dimer having a weight of 49,676 Da. The CLL showed nociceptive activity in the acetic acid test as well as peripheral antinociceptive response. The CLL also showed anti-inflammatory effect with the reduction of inflammation in the formalin test and neutrophil migration into the peritoneal cavity. This is the first report of anti-inflammatory activity for a monocot lectin, and it suggests a new pharmacological tool to understand inflammatory and antinociceptive processes mediated through lectins.     

Chemical composition and evaluation of antinociceptive activity of the essential oil of Stevia serrata Cav. from Guatemala

The composition and the antinociceptive activity of the essential oil of Stevia serrata Cav. from a population located in the west highlands of Guatemala were evaluated. A yield of 0.2% (w/w) of essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation of the dried aerial parts of the plant. The essential oil analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS showed a high content of sesquiterpenoids, with chamazulene (60.1%) as the major component and 91.5% of the essential oil composition was identified. To evaluate antinociceptive activity in mice, the essential oil of S. serrata Cav. was administered as gavage, using three different doses. In the formalin test, the animals were pre-treated with oral doses of the essential oil before the administration of formalin. Oral administration of S. serrata Cav. essential oil produced a marked antinociceptive activity. Therefore, the plant could be domesticated as a source of essential oil rich in chamazulene for developing medicinal products.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of Pistacia lentiscus essential oil: involvement of IL-6 and TNF-alpha

The topical anti-inflammatory activity of essential oil of Pistacia lentiscus L. was studied using carrageenan induced rat paw edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma. The effect on serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in rats inserted with cotton pellet was also investigated. On topical application, the oil exhibited a significant decrease in paw edema. The oil also inhibited cotton pellet-induced granuloma, and reduced serum TNF-alpha and IL-6. It can be concluded that the essential oil of Pistacia lentiscus reduces leukocyte migration to the damaged tissue and exhibits anti-inflammatory activity.     

Multidimensional liquid chromatography with parallel ICP MS and electrospray MS/MS detection as a tool for the characterization of arsenic species in algae

An analytical strategy was developed for the characterization of arsenic species in a Laminaria algae. The approach was based on multidimensional liquid chromatography (LC) including sample extract cleanup by size-exclusion LC, separation of arsenic species by anion-exchange LC, verification of the chromatographic purity of arsenic-containing fractions, and their further purification, if necessary, by reversed-phase (RP) HPLC. The complementarity of ICP MS, used as the chromatographic detector, and ES MS/MS, employed for the identification of the peaks observed, was demonstrated. The species found were: arsenosugar A 11.7+/-0.5 microg g(-1), AsV 10.9+/-2.1 microg g(-1), arsenosugar B 2.22+/-0.07 microg g(-1), arsenosugar D 1.5+/-1.2 microg g(-1), a newly detected arsenosugar 1.13+/-0.07 microg g(-1), arsenosugar C 0.61+/-0.04 microg g(-1), DMA 0.42+/-0.02 microg g(-1) and these accounted for >99% of the arsenic present. The identities of all the species, except the newly detected compound, were doubly checked by matching the retention times of chromatographically pure (after the 3rd LC dimension) species with standards and by ES MS/MS.     

Structural,functional, molecular,and biological evaluation of novel triterpenoids isolated from Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Moench. Collected from Mediterranean Sea bank: Misurata- Libya

Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Moench (Family Compositae) is a medicinal herb endowed with several pharmacological activities. Ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of the plant was used for the isolation of lignoceric acid (HS-02), lanost-5- en-3β-ol- 26-oic acid (HS-03), and lanost-5-en-26-oic acid-3β-olyl palmitate (HS-04). All molecules were screened for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities at 5 and 10 mg/kg body weight doses, and the TEST program assessed their toxicity. The molecular interaction profile with numerous anti-inflammatory drug targets was investigated by molecular docking. Compounds HS-03 and HS-04 showed a significant reduction in paw volume compared to the control group challenged with carrageenan in the rats, and prolongation of the paw licking/jumping and reduction in the number of writhes was noted after the injection of acetic acid in mice. In a hot plate test, all compounds showed significant pain inhibition. These findings might aid in the development of anti-inflammatory and anti-analgesic therapies.     

Characteristics of polysaccharides and protein associated with them from dried and freshly collected red alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tichocarpus crinitus</Emphasis>

Polysaccharides isolated by successive extraction with water at 20 and 80°C from freshly collected and dried alga T. crinitus were compared. It was shown that the yield of polysaccharides from freshly collected alga was 40–44%; from dried material, less than 25%. It was found that the amount of extracted polysaccharides and their molecular weights decreased upon storage of dried alga for three years. Polysaccharides isolated from freshly collected and dried alga had identical structures and were a mixture of κ/β- and a new X-type of carrageenan. It was shown that protein, the amount of which reached 24% in the extracts obtained at 20°C, was strongly bound to the carrageenan. The amino-acid compositions of the proteins associated with the polysaccharides isolated at 20 and 80°C were identical and had an elevated content of serine, glutamic acid, glycine, and alanine.     

Polysaccharides of algae 65. Unusual polysaccharide composition of the pacific brown alga Punctaria plantaginea

Quantitative determination revealed the presence of storage glucan (6.0%), fucoidan (19.2%) and alginate (12.7%) in the biomass of the brown alga Punctaria plantaginea collected from the Sea of Japan. The polysaccharides were isolated from the alga by fractional extraction followed by additional purification procedures. Unlike the well-known laminarans the storage polysaccharide from P. plantaginea was shown to be a linear (1→6)-β-d-glucopyranan, which is new for brown alga. The content of guluronic acid (G) residues in the alginate molecules exceeded the content of mannuronic acid residues (M), M/G = 0.5. Poly-G and poly-MG blocks were isolated from the products of partial hydrolysis of alginic acid; however, a heterogeneous mixture of polysaccharide fragments was obtained instead of the expected poly-M fraction. Preliminary data suggests that fucoidan from this alga is a new for brown algae type of sulfated polysaccharide (xylofucan) with a main backbone built of α-l-fucopyranose residues. This chain contains multiple sulfate groups and single non-sulfated β-d-xylopyranose residues as substituents.