Warifteine, an alkaloid of Cissampelos sympodialis, modulates allergic profile in a chronic allergic rhinitis model

ABSTRACT Cissampelos sympodialis Eichler, Menispermaceae, a Brazilian medicinal plant and its alkaloid warifteine present immunomodulatory activity on asthma experimental model by reducing antigen-specific IgE levels, eosinophil infiltration and lung hyperactivity. Allergic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the nasal tissue that affect the quality of life and it is a risk factor for asthma exacerbation. This study evaluated the effect of inhaled warifteine in an allergic ovalbumin rhinitis model. Inhaled warifteine (2 mg/ml) treatment of ovalbumin-sensitized BALB/c mice significant decreased total and differential number of cells on the nasal cavity and decreased ovalbumin-specific IgE serum levels. Hematoxylin & eosin staining of histological preparations of ovalbumin nasal tissues showed changes such as congestion and a massive cell infiltration in the perivascular and subepithelial regions characterizing the nasal inflammatory process. However, inhaled warifteine or dexamethasone treatment decreased cell infiltration into the perivascular regions and it was observed an intact nasal tissue. Periodic acidic staining of nasal epithelium of ovalbumin animals demonstrated high amount of mucus production by goblet cells and inhaled warifteine or dexamethasone treatment modulated the mucus production. In addition, toluidine blue staining of the nasal epithelium of ovalbumin animals demonstrated an increase of mast cells on the tissue and inhaled warifteine or dexamethasone treatment decreased in average of 1.4 times the number of these cells on the nasal epithelium. Taken these data together we postulate that warifteine, an immunomodulatory alkaloid, can be a medicinal molecule prototype to ameliorate the allergic rhinitis conditions.

Anti-inflammatory activity and acute toxicity studies of hydroalcoholic extract of Herissantia tiubae

ABSTRACT Hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of Herissantia tiubae (K. Schum.) Brizicky, Malvaceae, was evaluated in experimental models of inflammation and toxicity. For toxicity assays, male and female Swiss mice were orally treated with hydroalcoholic extract of H. tiubae (2000 mg/kg) and analyzed by consumption of water and food, body weight, mortality and rates of major organ weights, as well as biochemical and hematological indexes. For anti-inflammatory effect, phlogistic agents such as carrageenan or acetic acid were used to evaluate paw edema, cell migration and cytokine production. It was also investigated the hydroalcoholic extract of H. tiubae in RAW 264.7 macrophage lineage by nitric oxide and cytokine productions. Swiss mice treated with hydroalcoholic extract of H. tiubae showed low toxicity and (50 or 100 mg/kg) was able to reduce significantly (p < 0.01, p < 0.001) polymorphonuclear cell migration, TNF-α and IL-1β production in the carrageenan-induced peritonitis. However the hydroalcoholic extract of H. tiubae (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) did not reduce carrageenan-induced paw edema. Additionally, hydroalcoholic extract of H. tiubae did not present cytotoxicity at concentrations of 6.25, 12.5, 25 or 50 µg/ml but induced significantly decrease of NO, TNF-α and IL-6 production in macrophage lineage. This study suggests that hydroalcoholic extract of H. tiubae has anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting cell migration mainly by decreasing the inflammatory cytokine levels at the inflamed site independently of the anti-edematogenic effect.

Effect of the activity of the Brazilian polyherbal formulation: Eucalyptus globulus Labill, Peltodon radicans Pohl and Schinus terebinthifolius Radd in inflammatory models

The Brazilian polyherbal formulation (BPF) is composed by dyes of Eucalyptus globulus Labill, Peltodon radicans Pohl and Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi in alcohol at 13.3° GL. The formulation is popularly used in Paraíba state, Brazil since 1889 and it is used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory property of the polyherbal formulation. For this purpose it was used the12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and capsaicin-induced mouse ear edema and the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. The BPF at dose of 26 mL/Kg inhibited both 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and capsaicin-induced ear edema by 49 percent (p < 0.05) and 24 percent (p < 0.01) respectively. Preliminary results on carrageenan-induced rat paw edema demonstrated that oral administration also inhibited the paw edema by approximately 29 percent. The results demonstrate that the Brazilian polyherbal formulation has anti-inflammatory activity and the better dose was the one used by the population.

O medicamento fitoterápico brasileiro - BPF é composto de corantes das plantas Eucalyptus globulus Labill, Peltodon radicans Pohl e Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi em alcool a 13,3° GL. Este medicamento é popularmente usado no estado da Paraíba, Brasil desde 1889 como anti-séptico e antiinflamatório. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a propriedade antiinflamatória deste medicamento fitoterápico. Para tal, foram utilizadas as técnicas de edema de orelha em camundongos induzido por 12-O-tetradecanoilforbol 13-acetato (TPA) ou capsaicina e o edema de pata de rato induzido por carragenina. O BPF na dose de 26 mL/kg inibiu tanto edema de orelha induzido por TPA como por capsaicina a 49 por cento (p < 0.05) e 24 por cento (p < 0.01) respectivamente. Estudos preliminares utilizando a técnica de edema de pata induzido por carragenina demonstraram que a administração oral também inibiu o edema de pata em aproximadamente 29 por cento. Os resultados demonstraram que o medicamento fitoterápico brasileiro (BPF) apresentou propriedades antiinflamatórias e a melhor dose foi aquela que é usada pela população.

Anti-inflammatory activity of alkaloids: a twenty-century review / Atividade anti-inflamatória de alkalóides: uma revisão do século XX

Many substances which interfere with the inflammatory response have been isolated from plants. This review shows some alkaloids of vegetal origin which in the period of 1907 to 2000 were evaluated regarding a possible anti-inflammatory activity. The alkaloids were classified in sub-groups in accordance with their chemical structures and the pharmacological data were obtained from different experimental models. Of the 171 evaluated alkaloids, 137 presented anti-inflammatory activity, and among those, the isoquinoline type was the most studied. The Carrageenin-induced paw edema was the most used model for evaluating the anti-inflammatory activity. In this review, 174 references were cited.

Muitas substâncias que interferem na resposta inflamatória têm sido isoladas de plantas. Esta revisão mostra alguns alcalóides de origem vegetal que no período de 1907-2000 foram avaliados quanto a uma possível atividade anti-inflamatória. Os alcalóides foram classificados em subgrupos de acordo com suas estruturas químicas e os dados farmacológicos foram obtidos de diferentes modelos experimentais. Dos 171 alcalóides avaliados, 137 apresentaram atividade anti-inflamatória, e, entre eles, os alcalóides do tipo isoquinolínicos foram os mais estudados. O modelo de edema de pata induzido por carragenina foi o mais empregado para avaliação da atividade anti-inflamatória. Nesta revisão 174 referências foram consultadas.