title: Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of cucurbitacins from Wilbrandia ebracteata.
abstract: The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive actions of the CH2Cl2 extract and semipurified fraction (F-III) from roots of Wilbrandia ebracteata Cogn. have been investigated in rats and mice. The CH2Cl2 extract (1-10 mg/kg, i.p.; ID50 5 mg/kg) and (3-30 mg/kg, p.o.; ID50 15 mg/kg) inhibited, in a dose-related manner, carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats. The subfraction (F-III) from CH2Cl2 extract and compounds isolated as cucurbitacin B and E also inhibited carrageenan-induced edema. The CH2Cl2 extract and F-III also exhibited significant analgesic action in acetic acid-induced pain in mice. In the formalin test, the CH2Cl2 extract (0.3-10 mg/kg, i.p.) and (3-30 mg/kg, p.o.) caused inhibition of the neurogenic (first phase) and inflammatory phase (second phase) of formalin-induced pain. However, the CH2Cl2 extract was more effective in relation to the second phase than in inhibition of the formalin-induced edema. These findings suggest that CH2Cl2 extract has potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic action and that F-III and cucurbitacin B and E may account for these actions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro-do-Valle
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054728:Cucurbitacins; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D014315:Triterpenes; D054728:Cucurbitacins