Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of extract of Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent leaves in mice.

The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of crude ethanolic extract of Celtis iguanaea leaves and their active fractions are reported. The oral treatment with crude ethanolic extract (CEE; 100, 300 or 1000 mg/Kg) inhibited the number of writhings in a dose-dependent manner. The intermediate dose also inhibited formalin-induced nociception in both phases. The oral treatment with dichloromethane fraction (DF; 9 mg/Kg) produced antinociceptive effect in both phases of formalin test; however, the treatment with ethyl acetate fraction (EAF; 16 mg/Kg) reduced pain only in the second phase of this test. The oral treatments with CEE (300 mg/Kg) or DF (9 mg/Kg) reduced the nociception induced by capsaicin and pre-treatment with naloxone did not change these effects. The oral administration of CEE (300 mg/Kg), DF (9 mg/Kg) or ethyl EAF (16 mg/Kg) reduced ear edema, leukocytes migration and myeloperoxidase activity. Furthermore, the oral treatment with CEE (300 mg/Kg) or EAF (16 mg/Kg) reduced the level of Tumor Necrosis Factor - Alpha (TNF-α) in the pleurisy test. In conclusion, the DF showed antinociceptive activity that involves the vanilloid system as well as anti-inflammatory effect and the EAF showed anti-inflammatory activity involving the reduction of TNF-α cytokine.

Evaluation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Hydrocotyle umbellata L., Araliaceae (acariçoba) in mice.

The Hydrocotyle umbellata L. is a specimen of the Araliaceae family popularly known as acariçoba. Its indications in folk medicine include treatment of skin ulcers, and rheumatism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanolic extract from acariçoba's underground parts (EEA). EEA reduced the nociceptive response of the animals as evaluated in the acetic acid-induced writhing test and in both phases of formalin test. EEA also presented a supraspinal analgesic activity by increasing the pain latency in the hot plate test. Moreover, EEA reduced the leukocytes migration and plasma extravasation to pleural cavity in the carrageenan-induced pleurisy, besides reducing the edema induced by carrageenan until the second hour and also the edema induced by dextran. In conclusion our results showed that EEA of H. umbellata L. presents analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, and that a blockade of activity or reduction in the release of different mediators, such as histamine and serotonin, could be involved in these pharmacologic effects.

Antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence of Enterococcus spp. isolated from periodontitis-associated subgingival biofilm.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the prevalence, virulence and antimicrobial susceptibility of enterococci isolated from the subgingival microbiota of patients with different periodontal status. METHODS: Subgingival biofilm was obtained from individuals with periodontal health (PH) (n = 139), gingivitis (n = 103), and periodontitis (n = 305) and cultivated on selective media. Isolated strains were identified by mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial sensitivity was determined by disk diffusion, virulence genes by polymerase chain reaction, and the subgingival microbiota by checkerboard. Differences among groups were assessed by Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and Chi-square tests. RESULTS: Enterococcus spp. were isolated from 7.4% of all samples; 53.7% were Enterococcus faecalis. They were more prevalent in periodontitis (9.8%) and gingivitis (7.8%) than PH (2.2%; P <0.05), but no differences among stages of disease severity were observed. High rates of low susceptibility/resistance (>64%) to at least one antimicrobial were observed. Predominant virulence factors included ace (64.3%), asa (39.3%), and esp (35.7%). Fusobacterium nucleatum was prevalent in the subgingival microbiota of enterococci+ individuals, whereas Dialister pneumosintes was found in low frequency in patients with bopD+ enterococci. Oral streptococci were prevalent (>70%) in patients carrying enterococci susceptible to doxycycline (P <0.05), usually bopD- and esp- (P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: E. faecalis is increased in periodontitis-associated biofilm. Oral enterococci carry virulence genes and express resistance to some antibiotics commonly used in dentistry, such as ciprofloxacin and erythromycin. Specific subgingival taxa are associated with oral enterococci, suggesting they may interact with species of the dysbiotic periodontitis biofilm, constituting a potential source of factors to tissue destruction, antibiotic resistance dissemination, and poor response to periodontal therapy.

Triterpenes involved in the anti-inflammatory effect of ethanolic extract of Pterodon emarginatus Vogel stem bark.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanolic extract of Pterodon emarginatus Vogel stem bark (EtEx) resulted in the isolation and characterization of lupeol and betulin. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including IR, (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR and comparison with literature values. This study showed the anti-inflammatory activity of EtEx, the hexane (HexL) and dichloromethane (DichL) layers, and lupeol and betulin. The extract, HexL, DichL, lupeol and betulin were able to inhibit acetic acid-induced writhing. In the formalin test, EtEx decreased licking time only in the second phase characterizing anti-inflammatory activity. In the oil-induced ear oedema test, EtEx, lupeol and betulin decrease edema formation. In conclusion, EtEx has antinociceptive effects arising from anti-inflammatory activity; this activity could be due to the presence of lupeol and betulin.

Anti-inflammatory effect of Spiranthera odoratissima A. St.-Hil. leaves involves reduction of TNF-α.

Spiranthera odoratissima A. St.-Hil., 'manacá', is a medicinal species used in Brazil, especially in central region, for the treatment of several diseases such as pain and inflammation. In this study, the methanol/aqueous phase of the ethanol extract of the leaves of 'manacá' (MAP), at the doses of 50, 150 and 500 mg/kg was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and/or antinociceptive effects and the possible anti-inflammatory mechanism. The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of MAP were assessed using formalin test, carrageenan-induced paw oedema. The myeloperoxidase activity, capillary permeability, leukocyte migration and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were evaluated in pleural exudate. The MAP reduced the licking time only in the later phase of formalin test, and showed anti-inflammatory activity by reducing the paw oedema, migration cell, myeloperoxidase activity, capillary permeability and TNF-α levels. In conclusion, we confirmed the inflammatory activity of MAP and affirm that this effect involves the reduction of TNF-α level.

Effects of ethanolic extract of leaves of Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil., Lythraceae (pacari), in pain and inflammation models / Efeitos do extrato etanólico das folhas de Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil., Lythraceae (pacari), em modelos de dor e inflamação

Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil., Lythraceae, popularly known as pacari, is a Cerrado's native specimen; the stem bark extract is used in folk for pain and inflammation, also showing sedating activity. This study aimed to evaluate the analgesic and anti inflammatory activities of ethanol extract from pacari leaves (EEPL). These activities were verified in mice. The previous treatment with EEPL 1.0 g/kg showed antinociceptive activity both in the acetic acid-induced writing test and in the formalin-induced model of pain, and in neurogenic and inflammatory phases as well. In the croton oil-induced ear edema, the pre-treatments with EEPL reduced the edema in a dose-dependent manner. Also in the carrageenan-induced peritonitis, the two major doses tested (2.0 and 1.5 g/kg p.o.) were able to reduce the leukocyte migration in a dose-dependent manner. The Central Nervous System tests showed that the extract does not elicit uncoordinated motricity, hypnosis or sedating effects. The results showed that EEPL maintains the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the stem bark of pacari, being the collect of leaves more favorable to the preservation of this Cerrado's native specimen.

O pacari (Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil., Lythraceae) é uma espécie vegetal nativa do cerrado, o extrato da casca de caule é utilizado popularmente para dores e inflamação, tendo mostrado atividade sedativa. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar os efeitos do extrato etanólico das folhas do pacari (EEFP) como analgésico e antiinflamatório. As atividades analgésica e antiinflamatória foram verificadas em camundongos. O tratamento prévio com EEFP 1,0 g/kg mostrou atividade antinociceptiva tanto no método das contorções abdominais induzidas por ácido acético como também no modelo de dor induzida por formalina, tanto na fase neurogênica quanto na fase inflamatória. Os pré-tratamentos com o EEFP reduziram o edema de orelha, induzido por óleo de cróton, de forma dose-dependente. Os testes de atividade no sistema nervoso central mostraram que o extrato não provoca incoordenação motora nem hipnose ou sedação. Os resultados mostram que o EEFP mantém as atividades analgésica e antiinflamatória do extrato das cascas do caule do pacari, sendo que a coleta das folhas favorece a preservação desta espécie nativa do cerrado.