Phα1ß toxin prevents capsaicin-induced nociceptive behavior and mechanical hypersensitivity without acting on TRPV1 channels.

Phα1ß toxin is a peptide purified from the venom of the armed spider Phoneutria nigriventer, with markedly antinociceptive action in models of acute and persistent pain in rats. Similarly to ziconotide, its analgesic action is related to inhibition of high voltage activated calcium channels with more selectivity for N-type. In this study we evaluated the effect of Phα1ß when injected peripherally or intrathecally in a rat model of spontaneous pain induced by capsaicin. We also investigated the effect of Phα1ß on Ca²âº transients in cultured dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons and HEK293 cells expressing the TRPV1 receptor. Intraplantar or intrathecal administered Phα1ß reduced both nocifensive behavior and mechanical hypersensitivity induced by capsaicin similarly to that observed with SB366791, a specific TRPV1 antagonist. Peripheral nifedipine and mibefradil did also decrease nociceptive behavior induced by intraplantar capsaicin. In contrast, ω-conotoxin MVIIA (a selective N-type Ca²âº channel blocker) was effective only when administered intrathecally. Phα1ß, MVIIA and SB366791 inhibited, with similar potency, the capsaicin-induced Ca²âº transients in DRG neurons. The simultaneous administration of Phα1ß and SB366791 inhibited the capsaicin-induced Ca²âº transients that were additive suggesting that they act through different targets. Moreover, Phα1ß did not inhibit capsaicin-activated currents in patch-clamp recordings of HEK293 cells that expressed TRPV1 receptors. Our results show that Phα1ß may be effective as a therapeutic strategy for pain and this effect is not related to the inhibition of TRPV1 receptors.

Antinociceptive action of 4-methyl-5-trifluoromethyl-5-hydroxy-4, 5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole methyl ester in models of inflammatory pain in mice.

AIMS: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of the novel pyrazoline methyl ester: 4-methyl-5-trifluoromethyl-5-hydroxy-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole methyl ester (MPF4). MAIN METHODS: The effect of MPF4 was assessed in two models of pain: arthritic pain caused by Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) and postoperative pain caused by surgical incision in mice. KEY FINDINGS: MPF4 given intraperitoneally (1.0 mmol/kg, i.p.) produced marked antinociception in inflammatory allodynia caused by CFA. The antinociceptive effect produced by MPF4 was reversed with the pre-treatment of animals with naloxone or naltrindole. Oral administration of MPF4 (1.0 mmol/kg, p.o), dipyrone (1.0 mmol/kg, p.o.) and morphine (0.026 mmol/kg, p.o.) also produced an anti-allodynic effect. However, none of the compounds evaluated reversed the paw edema produced by CFA. Moreover, MPF4, dipyrone and morphine also produced an anti-allodynic effect in the surgical incisional pain model. The maximal inhibitions obtained with preemptive drug treatment were 66+/-7%, 73+/-9% and 88+/-8% for MPF4 (1.0 mmol/kg, p.o.), dipyrone (1.0 mmol/kg, p.o.) and morphine (0.026 mmol/kg, p.o.), respectively. The maximal inhibitions obtained with curative drug treatment were 53+/-9%, 83+/-7% and 84+/-7%, for MPF4, dipyrone and morphine, respectively. Unlike indomethacin, MPF4 did not induce gastric lesions at the dose that caused the highest antinociception (1.0 mmol/kg, p.o). The anti-allodynic action of MPF4, dipyrone and morphine was not associated with impairment of motor activity. SIGNIFICANCE: The results of the present study suggest that MPF4 represents a potential target for the development of new drugs to treat persistent inflammatory pain.

Antinociceptive effect of novel trihalomethyl-substituted pyrazoline methyl esters in formalin and hot-plate tests in mice.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antinociceptive potential of four novel pyrazoline methyl ester compounds on chemical and thermal models of pain in mice. The following 5-trihalomethylated-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole methyl ester compounds were tested: 3-methyl-5-trifluoromethyl-(MPF3), 4-methyl-5-trifluoromethyl-(MPF4), 3-methyl-5-trichloromethyl-(MPCl3) and 4-methyl-5-trichloromethyl-(MPCl4). MPF3, MPF4, MPCl3 and MPCl4 (0.03-1.0 mmol/kg) given intraperitoneally decreased neurogenic and inflammatory phases of nociception in the formalin test. Moreover, MPF3, MPF4, MPCl3, MPCl4 (0.1-1.0 mmol/kg) and dipyrone (1.5 mmol/kg) also produced a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect in the hot-plate test. However, MPF3, MPF4, MPCl3 and MPCl4 did not impair motor coordination in the rotarod test or spontaneous locomotion in the open field test. The antinociceptive effect of MPF4 (1.0 mmol/kg, i.p.) was reversed by the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone (2 mg/kg, i.p.), but not by the alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor antagonist yohimbine (0.15 mg/kg, i.p.) or by p-chlorophenylalanine ethyl ester (PCPA, 300 mg/kg, i.p.) treatment. In contrast to morphine (5 mg/kg, i.p.), MPF4 given daily for up to 8 days did not generate a tolerance to its antinociceptive effect. However, similar to morphine (11 mg/kg, i.p.), MPF4 reduced gastrointestinal transit in mice. Taken together these results demonstrate that these novel pyrazoline methyl esters tested may be promising prototypes of additional mild analgesics.

Spectrophotometric determination of oxiconazole in topical lotion using methyl orange.

A spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of oxiconazole in raw material and in topical lotion. This method is based on the reaction of the oxiconazole with methyl orange in buffered aqueous solution of citric acid at pH 2.3. The chromogen, being extractable with dichloromethane, could be measured quantitatively with maximum absorption at 427 nm. The Lambert-Beer law was obeyed in the concentration range of 4.0-14.0 microg ml(-1). A prospective validation of the method showed that the method was linear (r=0.9995), precise (intra-day: CV=1.57% and inter-day: CV=1.50%) and accurate (mean recoveries: 99.69%). The results compared favourably with those of the HPLC method.

LC method for the analysis of cefetamet pivoxil hydrochloride in drug substance and powder for oral suspension.

A high-performance liquid chromatography isocratic procedure was developed for the assay of cefetamet pivoxil hydrochloride in drug substance and powder for oral suspension. The method validation yielded good results and included the range, linearity, precision intra- inter-day, accuracy, specificity, LOD and LOQ values. The chromatographic system consisted of a C(18) absorbosphere column (150 x 4.6 mm i.d., 5 microm particle size), a mobile phase composed of water-acetonitrile-methanol-phosphate buffer, pH 3.5 (50:35:10:5, v/v), flow rate of 1.5 ml min(-1) and UV detection at 254 nm. The relative standard deviation varied between 0.03 and 1.76%, and accuracy of 100.09% was found. Calibration curve was linear from 30.0-80.0 microg ml(-1); its correlation coefficient was 0.99989.

LC method for the analysis of Oxiconazole in pharmaceutical formulations.

A LC method has been developed for the quantitative determination of Oxiconazole (Ox) in bulk form, lotion and cream pharmaceutical formulations. The method validation yielded good results including the range, linearity, precision, accuracy, recovery, specificity, robustness, limit of quantitation and limit of detection. The LC separation was carried by reversed phase chromatography using a LiChrocart C(8) column (125 mm x 4.0 mm i.d., 5 microm particle size). The mobile phase was composed of methanol-0.02 M ammonium acetate buffer (85:15 v/v), pumped isocratically at flow rate 1 ml min(-1). The detection was carried out on UV detector at 254 nm. The calibration curve for Ox was linear from 40.0-140.0 microg ml(-1) range. The precision of this method, calculated as the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) was 1.57% for lotion and 0.71% for cream. The R.S.D. values for intra- and inter-day precision studies were 0.57 and 1.34%, respectively. The recovery of the drug ranged between 98.84-102.2% (lotion) and 100.54-101.59% (cream). The stability indicating capability of the assays was proved using forced degradation. Chromatograms showed Ox well resolved from the degradation product.