Inhibition of formaldehyde-induced arthritis by a purified fraction prepared from Wilbrandia (cf) verticillata which contains novel norcucurbitacin glucosides.
The anti-inflammatory activity of a purified fraction of the rhizome of Wilbrandia (cf) verticillata, which contains two novel norcucurbitacin glucosides, is reported. The increase of vascular permeability induced by acetic acid in mice (N = 5) was inhibited 69% and 90% by 50 and 100 mg/kg of the purified fraction, po (P less than 0.01). Acetylsalicylic acid (200 mg/kg), po, inhibited the response by 62% under the same conditions (P less than 0.05). The purified fraction (100 mg/kg, po) also significantly inhibited paw swelling in the rat formaldehyde-induced arthritis model on 8 of 10 days and reduced the swelling by 63% on day 10. Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg, ip) was more effective than the extract under the same conditions. These data partially characterize the anti-inflammatory activity of the purified fraction from this plant which is used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of arthritis and related disorders.
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Departamento de Química Orgânica e Inorgânica, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Brasil.
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D000085:Acetates; D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects*; D054728:Cucurbitacins; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology
D000085:Acetates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014315:Triterpenes; D005557:Formaldehyde; D054728:Cucurbitacins