Protective Effect of Cashew Gum (Anacardium occidentale L.) on 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Intestinal Mucositis.

Intestinal mucositis is a common complication associated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a chemotherapeutic agent used for cancer treatment. Cashew gum (CG) has been reported as a potent anti-inflammatory agent. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of CG extracted from the exudate of Anacardium occidentale L. on experimental intestinal mucositis induced by 5-FU. Swiss mice were randomly divided into seven groups: Saline, 5-FU, CG 30, CG 60, CG 90, Celecoxib (CLX), and CLX + CG 90 groups. The weight of mice was measured daily. After treatment, the animals were euthanized and segments of the small intestine were collected to evaluate histopathological alterations (morphometric analysis), levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and glutathione (GSH), and immunohistochemical analysis of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). 5-FU induced intense weight loss and reduction in villus height compared to the saline group. CG 90 prevented 5-FU-induced histopathological changes and decreased oxidative stress through decrease of MDA levels and increase of GSH concentration. CG attenuated inflammatory process by decreasing MPO activity, intestinal mastocytosis, and COX-2 expression. Our findings suggest that CG at a concentration of 90 mg/kg reverses the effects of 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis.

Inhibition of neutrophil migration and reduction of oxidative stress by ethyl p-coumarate in acute and chronic inflammatory models.

BACKGROUND: It is well known that medicinal plants and their products are relevant candidates for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Ethyl p-coumarate is a phenylpropanoid that has similar structure to others anti-inflammatory and antioxidant substances. However, these activities have never been tested. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethyl p-coumarate on inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters. STUDY DESIGN: This is an experimental study to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of ethyl p-coumarate in acute and chronic models of inflammation. METHODS: The anti-inflammatory effect of ethyl p-coumarate was evaluated in Swiss mice by carrageenan-induced paw edema model (1%, 50 µl), followed by histological analysis, and edema induced by compound 48/80 (12 µg/paw), histamine (100  µg/paw), serotonin (100 µg/paw) and prostaglandin E2 (3 nmol/paw) in comparison to indomethacin treatment (10 mg/kg, p.o.). In addition, peritonitis was induced by carrageenan (500 µg/cavity) to neutrophil and total leukocytes counting, myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and 8 (IL-8), nitrite (NO2-), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) measurements. The arthritis model was induced with Freund's complete adjuvant (id. 0.1 ml) in female Wistar rats, with measurement of joint diameter and X-ray. Changes in gastric tissue of Swiss mice were analyzed in comparison to indomethacin (20  mg/kg, p.o.). RESULTS: After treatment with ethyl p-coumarate, the animals had no apparent toxic effects, and significantly inhibited paw edema induced by edematogenic agents, neutrophil (p < 0.001) and total leukocyte (p < 0.001) migration, MPO (p < 0.01), IL-6 (p < 0.05) and IL-8 (p < 0.5), MDA (p < 0.5), GSH (p < 0.5), NO2- (p < 0.001), joint thickness and bones changes. Furthermore, were not observed significant formation of gastric lesions. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results suggest that ethyl p-coumarate exhibits anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibition of inflammatory mediators and leukocyte migration without causing gastric lesions.

Photobiomodulation reduces neutrophil migration and oxidative stress in mice with carrageenan-induced peritonitis.

The purpose of the study is to investigate the effects of two doses of photobiomodulation (PBM) on inflammatory parameters including cell migration and oxidative stress in carrageenan-induced peritonitis models. Twenty-eight mice were divided into four groups: saline; untreated carrageenan (Cg; inflammation induced); and PMB treatment groups L1 and L5 (inflammation induced with carrageenan followed by laser irradiation at 1 and 5 J/cm2, respectively). After 30 min of inducing inflammation, laser irradiation was administered every hour, for 4 h. Peritoneal fluid was collected for analyses. The total leukocyte number in the peritoneal fluid in L1 (4.33 ± 2.34) and L5 (4.95 ± 2.86) after PBM was lower than that in Cg (10.93 ± 5.15 cells/ml). The average differential count of neutrophils in the Cg was 9.46 ± 4.31 cells/ml, which was higher than that in L1 (3.7 ± 2.08) and L5 (4.94 ± 2.57). Myeloperoxidase activity was also lower in L1 (1.89 ± 0.43) and L5 (4.84 ± 2.62) than in Cg (22.92 ± 4.52 UMPO/ml). Malondialdehyde content was lower in L1 (137.5 ± 12.33) and L5 (169.6 ± 22.77) than in Cg (345.7 ± 65.67 nmol/ml). Glutathione peroxidase concentration was significantly higher in L1 (155.2 ± 12.43) and L5 (145.9 ± 9.585) than in Cg (79.75 ± 9.567 µ/ml). Nitrite concentration was lower in L1 (0.3317 µM ± 0.0669) and L5 (0.2429 µM ± 0.0232) than in Cg (0.8380 µM ± 0.01615). Laser irradiation at 1 and 5 J/cm2 reversed the inflammation (as indicated by neutrophil infiltration and oxidative stress).