Antinociceptive and antiedematogenic properties and acute toxicity of Tabebuia avellanedae Lor. ex Griseb. inner bark aqueous extract.
BACKGROUND
Tabebuia avellanedae is a tree from the Bignoniaceae family. Commonly know as "pau d'arco" in Brazil, its inner bark is used as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antineoplasic and diuretic at the Brazilian northeast. A validation of the plant usage has not been previously performed.


RESULTS
Antinociceptive and antiedematogenic effects of Tabebuia avellanedae Lor. ex Griseb. inner bark were measured by nociceptive experimental models in mice. A rat paw edema test induced by carrageenan (1%) was also performed in rats to access the plant's antiedematogenic effect. The inner bark aqueous extract, administered via oral in three different concentration, namely 100, 200 and 400 mg/Kg, reduced the nociception produced by acetic acid (0.6% in water, i.p.) by 49.9%, 63.7% and 43.8%, respectively. The aqueous extract (200 and 400 mg/Kg, p.o.) reduced formalin (1%) effects only at the second phase of the experiment by 49.3% and 53.7%, respectively. Naloxone (5 mg/Kg, i.p.) was not able to revert the extract effect, however caffeine (10 mg/Kg, i.p.) reverted its effect by 19.8% at the second phase of the formalin test. The aqueous extract (200 mg/Kg, p.o.) inhibited edema by 12.9% when we used the rat paw edema model. The acute toxicity was low in mice.


CONCLUSIONS
The T. avellanedae inner bark aqueous extract presented antinociceptive and antiedematogenic activities at the used models, with a possible antinociceptive effect associated to the adenosine system.
de Miranda
F G
FG
Departamento de Fisiologia, CCBS, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, São Cristovão, Sergipe, 49100-000, Brazil. fmiranda@infonet.com.br
Vilar
J C
JC
Alves
I A
IA
Cavalcanti
S C
SC
Antoniolli
A R
AR
D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D002351:Carrageenan; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D029663:Tabebuia / Q000737:chemistry*
D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002351:Carrageenan