Applications of the hexanic fraction of Agave sisalana Perrine ex Engelm (Asparagaceae): control of inflammation and pain screening.

The present study evaluated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of Agave sisalana Perrine in classic models of inflammation and pain. The hexanic fraction of A. sisalana (HFAS) was obtained by acid hydrolysis followed by hexanic reflux. Anti-inflammatory properties were examined in three acute mouse models (xylene ear oedema, hind paw oedema and pleurisy) and a chronic mouse model (granuloma cotton pellet). The antinociceptive potential was evaluated in chemical (acetic-acid) and thermal (tail-flick and hot-plate test) models of pain. When given orally, HFAS (5, 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg) reduced ear oedema (p < 0.0001; 52%, 71%, 62% and 42%, respectively). HFAS also reduced hind paw oedema at doses of 10 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg (p < 0.05; 42% and 58%, respectively) and pleurisy at doses of 10 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg (41% and 50%, respectively). In a chronic model, HFAS reduced inflammation by 46% and 58% at doses of 10 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg, respectively. Moreover, this fraction showed analgesic properties against the abdominal writhing in an acetic acid model (at doses of 5-25 mg/kg) with inhibitory rates of 24%, 54% and 48%. The HFAS also showed an increased latency time in the hot-plate (23% and 28%) and tail-flick tests (61% and 66%) for the 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg doses, respectively. These results suggest that HFAS has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties.

Avaliação da resposta anti-inflamatória intestinal de proantocianidinas de Rhizophora mangle L. no tratamento de colite experimental induzida por ácido tri-nitro-benzeno sulfônico (TNBS) em ratos e dextrana sal sódico (DSS) em camundongos / Evaluation of the intestinal anti-inflammatory response of proanthocyanidins of Rhizophora mangle in the treatment of experimental colitis induced by trinitro benzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) in rats and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in mice

As doenças inflamatórias intestinais (DII) compreendem doença de Crohn e reto-colite ulcerativa inespecífica, ambas caracterizadas por processo inflamatório crônico e descontrolado no intestino mediado por células do sistema imune. DII tem sido objeto de extensas pesquisas nos últimos anos; indefinição sobre etiologia e ausência de tratamento eficaz os justificam. Nesse cenário, produtos naturais surgem como alternativas terapêuticas, uma vez que moléculas com atividade farmacológica pronunciada, especialmente compostos fenólicos, têm merecido destaque. Neste trabalho foram avaliadas três frações orgânicas (aquosa – Aq, butanólica – BuOH, e acetato de EtOAc) obtidas a partir das cascas de Rhizophora mangle em modelos experimentais de colite induzida por dextrana sal sódico (DSS) em camundongos e ácido 2,4,6-tri-nitro-benzeno-sulfônico (TNBS) em ratos. BuOH (0.5 e 1.5 mg.Kg-1) e EtOAc (1.5 mg.Kg-1) foram efetivas no modelo de colite por DSS, enquanto BuOH 0.5 mg.K-1 e EtOAc 1.5 mg.Kg-1 mostraram-se eficazes na colite aguda por TNBS. No modelo sub-crônico de colite os tratamentos BuOH e EtOAc reduziram novamente os danos causados pelo TNBS, embora BuOH tenha se mostrado mais eficiente. A avaliação de mediadores envolvidos nesses modelos experimentais mostrou que tanto BuOH quanto EtOAc exercem ação sobre a atividade da glutationa peroxidase (GSH-Px) e mieloperoxidase (MPO) bem como sobre os níveis das citocinas pró-inflamatórias fator de necrose tumoral-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleucinas 1β, 6 e 12 (IL-1β, IL-6 e IL-12), além de reduzirem a expressão de ciclo-oxigenase-2 (COX-2) no modelo de DSS.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) comprises Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, both are characterized by an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory process in the gut. IBD have been studied over the past few years; undefined etiology and the absence of effective treatments justify these studies. In this scenario, natural products arises as therapeutic alternative, once various studies in animal models have shown efficient treatments. Nowadays, molecules with pronounced pharmacological activities, especially phenolic compounds, have been highlighted. In this work three organic fractions (aqueous – Aq, butanolic – BuOH and ethyl acetate – EtOAc) obtained from Rhizophora mangle barks were evaluated in experimental models of dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice and 2,4,6-tri-nitro-benzene sulphonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats. BuOH (0.5 and 1.5 mg.Kg-1) and EtOAc (1.5 mg.Kg-1) were effective in the DSS-induced model, while BuOH (0.5 mg.Kg-1) and EtOAc (1.5 mg.Kg-1) were also effective in acute TNBS-induced model of colitis, which lead to the evaluation of these last ones in sub-chronic TNBS-induced models of colitis. In this model, both treatments reduced the injury provoked by the instillation of TNBS, although BuOH has shown more efficiency. The evaluation of the mediators involved in these experimental models showed that either BuOH as EtOAc act on the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and myeloperoxidase activities as well as on pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-α), interferon- (IFN-γ) and interleukins -1β, 6 and 12 (IL-1, IL-6 and IL-12) levels, and down-regulation of ciclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in the DSS-induced model of colitis.