RESUMO
ABSTRACT Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sarg., Cannabaceae, is popularly used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. However, chemical and pharmacological investigations are lacking. In this study, we investigated the effects of the hydroalcoholic extract from C. iguanaea on markers of cardiovascular diseases and the glucose metabolism in cholesterol-fed rats. Therefore, hypercholesterolemic rats (1% cholesterol) were orally treated with C. iguanaea extract (C-150, CI-300, or CI-600 mg/kg) or simvastatin (4 mg/kg) (n = 6) once a day (30 days) with a hypercholesterolemic diet. A control group (C) was given saline. C. iguanaea extract showed significant decreases in serum levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HMG-CoA-reductase, interleukin-1 and 6, TNF-α and IFN-γ when compared to group C (p < 0.001). Hypoglycemic effects were observed along with a decrease of the activity of sucrase (CI-600), maltase (CI-150, CI-300), and an increase in muscle glycogen levels (CI-300). Antioxidant effects were observed in plasma by the decrease of TBARS and increase of nonprotein thiols levels (CI-600). The histopathological analysis showed a significant decrease in the liver fat area for C. iguanaea extract compared to group C (p < 0.001). Our results suggest that the biological effects of C. iguanaea extract could be related to the flavonoids that possibly exert antioxidant, enzymatic inhibitory, and insulin-mimetic effects.
RESUMO
AbstractArrabidaea brachypoda Bureau, Bignoniaceae, known as "cipó-una", is widely used in traditional medicine in Southeastern and Northeastern Brazil for kidney stones and painful joints. This study was aimed at evaluating the anti-inflammatory proprieties of the oleanane-type triterpenoid 3β-estearioxy-olean-12-ene isolated from the roots of A. brachypoda. Carrageenan-induced paw oedema, formalin test and hot plate test were used to investigate the antiinflammatory activity of 3β-estearioxy-olean-12-ene in animals. We observed that 3β-estearioxy-olean-12-ene at doses of 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg p.o. demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects, by reduced (p < 0.05) paw oedema induced by carrageenan and by decreased (p < 0.05) licking time caused by a subplantar injection of formalin. In conclusion, 3β-estearioxy-olean-12-ene, a triterpene isolated from the roots of A. brachypoda, demonstrate anti-inflammatory effect in different tests. Thus, it may be useful in the treatment of inflammatory disorders, which supports previous claims of its traditional use.