Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Euterpe oleracea Mart., Arecaceae, oil

ABSTRACT

The oil of the fruits of Euterpe oleracea Mart., Arecaceae (OEO), was evaluated in models of inflammation and hyperalgesia in vivo to study its effects on these conditions. The experimental models contained the writhing test in mice, rat paw edema, granuloma test in rats, vascular permeability in rats, cell migration to the peritoneal cavity in rats and ear erythema induced by croton oil in mice. Doses of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg of OEO were administered orally. The observed number of writhes was inhibited by 33.67, 45.88 and 55.58 percent, respectively. OEO produced a dose-dependent effect, with linear correlation coefficient R=0.99 (y=0.0219x+23.133), and the median effective dose found was 1226.8 mg/kg. The oral administration of 1226.8 mg/kg of OEO inhibited carrageenan-induced edema by 29.18 percent (p<0.05) when compared to the control group. The daily administration of OEO for six days inhibited the formation of granulomatous tissue by 36.66 percent (p<0.01). In ear erythema induced by croton oil, OEO presented a significant inhibition (37.9 percent). In the vascular permeability test, treatment with OEO decreased the response to histamine, inhibiting vascular permeability by 54.16 percent. In carrageenan-induced peritonitis, OEO reduced the number of neutrophils migrating compared to the control group by 80.14 percent. These results suggested that OEO has anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities, probably of peripheral origin and linked to prostaglandin biosynthesis inhibition.