Venom of the giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps attenuates inflammatory pain in mouse cutaneous wound healing model

Arthropod venoms are potential sources of bioactive substances, providing tools for the validation of popular use and new drugs design. Ants belonging to the genus Dinoponera are used in the folk medicine to treat inflammatory conditions. It was previously demonstrated that the venom of the giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps (DqV), containing a mixture of polypeptides, elicit antinociceptive effect in mice models of chemical, mechanical and thermal nociception. The aim of this study was to evaluate DqV antiinflammatory and antihypernociceptive effects in a mice model of traumatic cutaneous wound. Colonies of D. quadriceps were collected in the 'Serra de Maranguape' (State of Ceará, northeastern Brazil), a small mountain range located on the coastal zone, and the venom secreted by the ant glands was extracted with capillary tubes, further lyophilized and maintained at -20 ± 1ºC until use. Wounds were performed in the dorsum of Swiss mice. Animals received intravenous (i.v.) injection of DqV (50 µg kg-1 day-1) during 3 days for evaluation of inflammatory parameters present in the wounds: hypernociception, leukocyte infiltrate, myeloperoxidase activity, nitrite/nitrate content. Data was tested by two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni's post-hoc test. DqV reduced (2.7 folds) hypernociception at 48 hours, leukocyte infiltration by 65% at 6 hours and myeloperoxidase activity by 60% at 0.5 hour after wound induction. In conclusion, the venom extracted from D. quadriceps glands attenuates inflammation and hypernociception in mice cutaneous wounds.(AU)

Venom of the giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps attenuates inflammatory pain in mouse cutaneous wound healing model

Arthropod venoms are potential sources of bioactive substances, providing tools for the validation of popular use and new drugs design. Ants belonging to the genus Dinoponera are used in the folk medicine to treat inflammatory conditions. It was previously demonstrated that the venom of the giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps (DqV), containing a mixture of polypeptides, elicit antinociceptive effect in mice models of chemical, mechanical and thermal nociception. The aim of this study was to evaluate DqV antiinflammatory and antihypernociceptive effects in a mice model of traumatic cutaneous wound. Colonies of D. quadriceps were collected in the ‘‘Serra de Maranguape’’ (State of Ceará, northeastern Brazil), a small mountain range located on the coastal zone, and the venom secreted by the ant glands was extracted with capillary tubes, further lyophilized and maintained at -20 ± 1ºC until use. Wounds were performed in the dorsum of Swiss mice. Animals received intravenous (i.v.) injection of DqV (50 µg -1kg day-1) during 3 days for evaluation of inflammatory parameters present in the wounds: hypernociception, leukocyte infiltrate, myeloperoxidase activity, nitrite nitrate-1 content. Data was tested by two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni’s post-hoc test. DqV reduced (2.7 folds) hypernociception at 48 hours, leukocyte infiltration by 65% at 6 hours and myeloperoxidase activity by 60% at 0.5 hour after wound induction. In conclusion, the venom extracted from D. quadriceps glands attenuates inflammation and hypernociception in mice cutaneous wounds.

Venom of the giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps attenuates inflammatory pain in mouse cutaneous wound healing model

Arthropod venoms are potential sources of bioactive substances, providing tools for the validation of popular use and new drugs design. Ants belonging to the genus Dinoponera are used in the folk medicine to treat inflammatory conditions. It was previously demonstrated that the venom of the giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps (DqV), containing a mixture of polypeptides, elicit antinociceptive effect in mice models of chemical, mechanical and thermal nociception. The aim of this study was to evaluate DqV antiinflammatory and antihypernociceptive effects in a mice model of traumatic cutaneous wound. Colonies of D. quadriceps were collected in the ‘‘Serra de Maranguape (State of Ceará, northeastern Brazil), a small mountain range located on the coastal zone, and the venom secreted by the ant glands was extracted with capillary tubes, further lyophilized and maintained at -20 ± 1ºC until use. Wounds were performed in the dorsum of Swiss mice. Animals received intravenous (i.v.) injection of DqV (50 µg -1kg day-1) during 3 days for evaluation of inflammatory parameters present in the wounds: hypernociception, leukocyte infiltrate, myeloperoxidase activity, nitrite nitrate-1 content. Data was tested by two-way ANOVA and Bonferronis post-hoc test. DqV reduced (2.7 folds) hypernociception at 48 hours, leukocyte infiltration by 65% at 6 hours and myeloperoxidase activity by 60% at 0.5 hour after wound induction. In conclusion, the venom extracted from D. quadriceps glands attenuates inflammation and hypernociception in mice cutaneous wounds.(AU)

Atividades edematogênica e antinociceptiva da lectina isolada da fração albumina de Acacia farnesiana / Edematogenic and antinociceptive activities of the lectin isolated from the albumin fraction of Acacia farnesiana

This study aims to evaluate the activity of AFAL in the models of paw edema and chemical nociception. AFAL was injected s.c. or i.v before s.c. injection of carrageenan or dextran in rats to evaluate its pro- or anti-edematogenic effect. The antinociceptive activity was investigated by AFAL i.v. administration in mice in the writhing and formalin tests. Results were expressed as Mean ± SEM and considered significant for p <0.05 (ANOVA). AFAL (0.1 and 1 mg/kg; s.c.) induced paw edema in 30 min, remained constant until the 3rd h, increasing paw volume by 2.9x and 3.4x, respectively, compared to saline. However, the lectin did not change the edema induced by carrageenan, dextran or formalin. AFAL reduced the number of writhes by 53% (0.1 mg/kg) 60% (1 mg/kg) and 74% (10 mg/kg), but had no effect at any phases of the formalin test. In conclusion, AFAL presents pro-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity.

Atividades edematogênica e antinociceptiva da lectina isolada da fração albumina de Acacia farnesiana / Edematogenic and antinociceptive activities of the lectin isolated from the albumin fraction of Acacia farnesiana

This study aims to evaluate the activity of AFAL in the models of paw edema and chemical nociception. AFAL was injected s.c. or i.v before s.c. injection of carrageenan or dextran in rats to evaluate its pro- or anti-edematogenic effect. The antinociceptive activity was investigated by AFAL i.v. administration in mice in the writhing and formalin tests. Results were expressed as Mean ± SEM and considered significant for p <0.05 (ANOVA). AFAL (0.1 and 1 mg/kg; s.c.) induced paw edema in 30 min, remained constant until the 3rd h, increasing paw volume by 2.9x and 3.4x, respectively, compared to saline. However, the lectin did not change the edema induced by carrageenan, dextran or formalin. AFAL reduced the number of writhes by 53% (0.1 mg/kg) 60% (1 mg/kg) and 74% (10 mg/kg), but had no effect at any phases of the formalin test. In conclusion, AFAL presents pro-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity.(AU)