Antinociceptive and gastroprotective actions of ethanolic extract from Pluchea sagittalis (Lam.) Cabrera

AbstractEthnopharmacological relevancePluchea sagittalis, an herbaceous plant widely distributed in South America, is used in folk medicine for the treatment of digestive diseases and inflammation.Aim of the studyThis study was designed to investigate the antinociceptive and gastroprotective effects of the ethanolic extract (EE) of aerial parts from Pluchea sagittalis in rodents.Materials and methodsThe antinociceptive effects of EE was evaluated in mice after oral administration in chemical tests (acetic-acid, glutamate and formalin) or by biting behavior following intrathecal administration of cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in mice. Furthermore, rats were treated with EE and subsequently exposed to acute gastric lesions induced by 80% ethanol. Afterwards the gastric lesion extension and the mucus levels of gastric mucosa were measured.ResultsThe oral administration of EE showed a dose-dependent inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions and glutamate-induced pain in mice, with ID50 values of 624.0 (523.0–746.0)mg/kg and 368.0 (216.0–628.0)mg/kg, respectively. In the formalin test, the EE also produced significant inhibition of the inflammatory phase, with an ID50 value of 411.0 (183.0–721.0) mg/kg; however, it was ineffective in the neurogenic phase caused by formalin. In addition, oral treatment with EE caused a significant inhibition of biting behavior induced by i.t. injection of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The antinociception caused by the EE (300mg/kg, p.o.) was not reversed by naloxone (1mg/kg, i.p.) when assessed in the acetic acid writhing test. The EE (300–1000mg/kg, p.o.) did not affect the motor coordination of animals in an open-field model. Oral treatment with the EE protected rats against gastric lesions induced by ethanol, with an ID50 value of 55.0 (46.6–64.9)mg/kg, and increased the mucus levels of gastric mucosa to levels found in the non-lesioned group.ConclusionsThe mechanism by which the extract produced antinociception still remains unclear, but this effect seems to be primarily related to the modulation or inhibition of the action of pro-inflammatory mediators. Furthermore, these data support, at least in part, the ethnomedical use of Pluchea sagittalis

Antinociception of β-d-glucan from Pleurotus pulmonarius is possibly related to protein kinase C inhibition

Abstractβ-d-Glucan, a polysaccharide isolated from an edible mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quel., presented antinociceptive activity in mice. This study evaluated the involvement of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and protein kinase C (PKC) on antinociceptive effect of a (1→3),(1→6)-linked β-d-glucan (GL) in mice. Intraperitoneal administration of GL potently inhibited nociceptive responses induced by intraplantar injections of capsaicin, cinnamaldehyde, menthol, acidified saline and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Moreover, Western blot analysis revealed that GL treatment also prevented PMA-induced PKCɛ activation. Collectively, present results demonstrate that GL could constitute an attractive molecule of interest for the development of new analgesic drugs

Action of crude aqueous extract of leaves of Achillea millefolium L. (Compositae) on gastrointestinal tract

Achillea millefolium L. (Compositeae) is used in folk medicine to treat gastric disturbances. Doses of 125, 1500 and 2000 mg/kg protected rats against ulcers induced by ethanol and restraint-in-cold-stress, but not against indomethacininduced ulcers. Injected into the duodenal lumen the extract inhibited the basal acid secretion. Data from studies indicate that the antiulcer activity of A. millefolium must been related to a inhibition of gastric secretion or to a increase of protective factors in gastric mucosa as mucus, bicarbonate and blood flow. In conclusion, this extract effectively protected the gastric mucosa and inhibited gastric acid secretion. Further studies should also be provided for the stimulation of receptors in the parietal cell to elucidate the route whereby the extract produce this action

Chemical and biological properties of a highly branched β-glucan from edible mushroom Pleurotus sajor-caju

AbstractHot aqueous extraction of the basidiocarps of the mushroom Pleurotus sajor-caju provided a cold water-soluble, gel-like glucan, which was characterized chemically, and its effects on RAW 264.7 cell line (mouse leukaemic monocyte macrophage) activation were determined. NMR spectroscopy, HPSEC, methylation analysis, and a controlled Smith degradation showed it to have a branched structure with a (1→3)-linked β-Glcp main-chain, substituted at O-6 by single-unit β-Glcp side-chains, on the average of two to every third residues of the backbone, with a molar mass of 9.75×105gmol−1. In macrophage cell culture, the β-glucan induced production of NO and the cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, these effects being very similar as those of Escherichia coli serotype 0111:B4 Sigma–Aldrich lipopolysaccharide (LPS), although not modifying the response of LPS-activated macrophages. The results suggest that the (1→3), (1→6)-linked β-glucan from P. sajor-caju may have potential for immunological activities, although additional experiments are necessary for a better understanding of the mechanisms involved

Modulation of antioxidant systems by subchronic exposure to the aqueous extract of leaves from <i>Achillea millefolium</i> L. in rats

<div><p>We determined the effects of subchronic exposure to aqueous extract of leaves from <i>Achillea millefolium</i> (AE) on enzyme- and non-enzyme-dependent antioxidant systems in rats. Seven days treatment with AE (1 g/kg/twice a day, p.o.) altered the reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and antioxidant enzyme activities in several organs of the animals. Amount of GSH in uterus was increased (73%) while in kidneys it was decreased (23%). Besides, NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) activity was increased in forestomach (26%) and in liver (64%), while glutathione <i>S</i>-transferase activity was decreased in the forestomach (32%) and increased in the liver (41%), kidney (35%) and uterus (37%). In preliminary experiments targeting the interaction of AE with acetaminophen (600 mg/kg, p.o.), we observed augmentation of acetaminophen-induced increase of the plasmatic alanine aminotransaminase, aspartate aminotransaminase and lactate dehydrogenase. Overall, the results indicate a potential toxic interaction of AE compounds with xenobiotics that use the glutathione pathway.</p></div