title: Pseudo-akuammigine, an alkaloid from Picralima nitida seeds, has anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions in rats.
abstract: Pseudo-akuammigine, an alkaloid from Picralima nitida seed extract was investigated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions using the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema and the rat tail flick. The alkaloid, at 1.0, 5.0 and 50 mgkg(-1)(,) dose-dependently inhibited the mean maximal paw swelling attained during 6 h to 78.2+/-2.1, 74.7+/-4.3 and 59.5+/-2.3% of the mean control value respectively when administered p.o. 1 h before induction of oedema. At the same dose levels, the total paw swelling over the 6-h period was also significantly (P<0.05) reduced to 83.2+/-9.7, 73.0+/-5.0 and 55.8+/-8.3% of the mean control response respectively. When administered after induction of oedema, psi-akuammigine (5.0 mgkg(-1)) significantly (P<0.05) reduced established rat paw swelling to 82.8+/-4.6% of the control response after 5 h. As an analgesic, psi-akuammigine was 3.5 and 1.6 times less potent than morphine and indomethacin respectively. The ED(50) values were Morphine (2.9 microM), psi-akuammigine (10 microM) and indomethacin (6.3 microM). Naloxone (1.0 mgkg(-1)) significantly (P<0.05) antagonised the analgesic action of the alkaloid by 35.8+/-6.8%. Pseudo-akuammigine therefore exhibits anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions. The analgesic actions are mediated via interaction with opioid receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. m_duwiejua@hotmail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Duwiejua
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Woode
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Obiri
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000700:Analgesics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts