Studies on the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties of Blepharis maderaspatensis leaves

Blepharis maderaspatensis (L.) B. Heyne ex Roth, Acanthaceae, is a procumbent or scrambling perennial herb used traditionally for treatment of snakebites, wounds, edema and gout. The anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties of the ethanol extract of the whole plant of B. maderaspatensis was investigated using carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats, xyleneinduced edema in mice, mouse writhing and tail clip tests respectively. The effect of the extract on inflammatory mediators, serotonin and histamine, using the most active dose (75 mg/kg) was also carried out. The results showed that the extract of B. maderaspatensis in carrageenan-induced test caused a significant inhibition (84.5%, 90 min) of paw edema at a dose of 75 mg/kg while the xylene-induced test caused a significant inhibition (62.65%) at 50 mg/kg. The histamine-induced test showed significant inhibition (90.9%, 90 min) while serotonin-induced test showed moderate inhibition (54.10%, 180 min). In the mouse writhing and tail clip tests, the extract produced a significant inhibition of 66.21% and 15.81% at 75 mg/kg, respectively. These results collectively demonstrate that the ethanol extract of B. maderaspatensis possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties, and this supports the ethnopharmacological use of the plant in the treatment of inflammation.

Efecto antiinflamatorio y composición química del aceite de ramas de bursera graveolens triana & planch. (palo santo) de Ecuador / Antinflammatory effect and chemical composition of bursera graveolens triana & planch. branch oil (palo santo) from Ecuador

INTRODUCCIÓN: la especie Bursera graveolens Triana & Planch, comúnmente llamada palo santo, es una planta nativa de las costas ecuatorianas y peruanas. OBJETIVOS: contribuir al estudio fitoquímico y farmacológico de la especie B. graveolens, nativa de San José de Ancón, provincia de Santa Elena, Ecuador. MÉTODOS: se empleó el extracto hidroalcohólico 50 porciento de ramas secas. Se realizó un estudio fitoquímico a través del sistema acoplado de cromatografía gaseosa-espectrometría de masas y se determinó el efecto antiinflamatorio en el modelo de edema de la oreja inducido por aceite de Crotón en ratones albinos de la línea OF1. RESULTADOS: el tamizaje fitoquímico mostró presencia de aceites esenciales, triterpenos-esteroides, compuestos fenólicos, flavonoides, quinonas, antocianidinas, saponinas y compuestos reductores. Se determinó estructuras a 11 componentes del aceite esencial extraído de las ramas y el sesquiterpeno denominado viridiflorol resultó el componente mayoritario con 70,82 porciento, este compuesto se informa por primera vez en esta especie. El extracto hidroalcohólico (25 mL a cada lado de las orejas tratadas) inhibió significativamente la inflamación comparado con la bencidamina. CONCLUSIONES: los extractos hidroalcohólicos mostraron un efecto antiinflamatorio en las condiciones experimentales del estudio y se determinó la composición química del aceite de ramas de B. graveolens de Ecuador.

INTRODUCTION: Bursera graveolens Triana & Planch. species, commonly called palo santo, is an indigenous plant from Ecuadorian and Peruvian coasts. OBJECTIVES: to contribute to the phytochemical and pharmacological study of B. graveolens species from San José de Ancon, Santa Elena province, Ecuador. METHODS: 50 percent hydroalcoholic extract from dry branches was used. The phytochemical study was based on a combined system of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and the antinflammatory effect was determined in the model of ear edema induced by Croton oil in albino OF1 mice. RESULTS: phytochemical screening showed the existence of essential oils, triterpen-steroids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, quinones, antocyanidines, saponins and reducing compounds. The structures of eleven essential oil components from branches were determined whereas sesquiterpene called viridiflorol turned out to be the main component with 70,82 percent; this is the first time that this compound is reported in this species. The hydroalcoholic extract (25 mL applied at each side of the treated ears) significantly inhibited the inflammation compared with the effect of benzydamine. CONCLUSIONS: hydroalcoholic extracts showed antinflammatory effect under experimental study conditions and the chemical composition of branch oil from B. graveolens from Ecuador was determined.

Concentrações plasmáticas de triptamina, tiramina e feniletilamina em eqüinos sob efeitos de sobrecarga de carboidratos e antiinflamatórios não esteroidais / Plasmatic concentrations of tryptamine, tyramine end phenylethylamine in horses under the effect of carbohydrate overload and non-steroid antinflammatory compounds

As concentrações plasmáticas das aminas triptamina (TRP), tyramina (TYR) e pheniletilamina (PEA) foram determinadas por cromatografia gasosa (CG) de 20 eqüinos sob efeito de sobrecarga por carboidratos (SC). Após 36h da SC os animais foram aleatoriamente divididos em quatro grupos (n=5) e receberam a cada 12h por via iv: solução salina 10mL (GC), ketoprofeno 2,2mg/kg (GK), fenilbutazona 4,4mg/kg (GF) e flunixin meglumine 1,1mg/kg (GFM). As concentrações das aminas TYR e PEA variaram de 0,18 a 164,2mg/L, com diferenças nos tempos avaliados, mas não entre os tratamentos (p<0,01). A concentração plasmática de TRP apresentou diferenças entre os tempos e também entre os tratamentos. O GC diferiu dos demais nos momentos 48h e 60h e as concentrações nos grupos GK e GFM foram menores que nos grupos GF e GC às 72h (P= 0,0012). Conclui-se que nas doses utilizadas os antiinflamatórios não esteroidais avaliados não interferem nas concentrações de TYR e PEA. Entretanto, o ketoprofeno e o flunixin meglumine foram efetivos em diminuir a concentração plasmática de TRP.

The concentrations of the bioactives amines tryptamine (TRP), tyramine (TYR) and phenylethylamine (PEA) were determined by gas chromatography in plasma samples of 20 horses submitted to carbohydrate overload. Thirty hours after the overload, the horses were randomly distributed in four groups (n=5) and were submitted to four IV treatments every 12 hours: 10ml of saline (GC), ketoprofen 2.2mg/kg (GK), phenylbutazone 4.4mg/kg (GF), and flunixin meglumine 1.1mg/kg (GFM). Blood samples were collected at various times after the overload (0-72 h). Plasma TYR and PEA concentrations ranged from 0.18 to 164.2mg/L, and differed significantly with time (p<0.01), but did not differ in the treatments. Plasma concentrations of TRP differed between times and treatments. The GC was significantly major than other treatments at 48h and 60h after the overload, and the plasma concentration of TRP in groups GK and GFM was significantly lower than in groups GF and GC at 72 h (p=0.0012). We concluded that the anti-inflammatory drugs evaluated do not interfere in the plasma concentration of TYP and PEA. For TRP, ketoprofen and flunixin meglumine was effective to reduce de plasmatic concentration of this amine.