title: Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of water-ethanolic extract from Pothomorphe umbellata (Piperaceae) aerial parts.
abstract: Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities as well as the median lethal dose (LD50) of water-ethanolic extract (PHE) of the aerial parts of Pothomorphe umbellata were evaluated in animal models. The ED(50) (oral) for the inhibition of carrageenan-induced rat paw edema assay was determined to be 550 mg/kg, while the LD(50) was higher than 2.0 g/kg. At a dose of 550 mg/kg, PHE inhibited the inflammatory process by 48.7% (P < 0.05) on the third hour of the assay (edema peak) when compared to the untreated control. Indomethacin, the positive control used in this test, inhibited the edema by 58.6% at a dose of 10 mg/kg, when compared to the untreated control (P < 0.05). All three fractions--hexane, methylene chloride and ethyl acetate--obtained by partition of PHE with respective solvents also showed inhibition of the edema induced by carrageenan over a period of 4h but the methylene chloride fraction showed the best activity. The activity shown by the methylene chloride fraction at 200 mg/kg was comparable to that exhibited by indomethacin at a dose of 10mg/kg. The number of writhings induced by a 0.6% acetic acid solution intraperitoneal injection was decreased by 22% (P < 0.05) in the group treated orally with Pothomorphe umbellata crude extract. PHE also inhibited the granulomatous tissue formation in rats by 6.2% (P < 0.05). In the same assay, topically applied dexamethasone decreased the granuloma formation by 14.2%. The above results suggest that Pothomorphe umbellata crude extract has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties supporting its folkloric use for the treatment of these conditions.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. do Café s/n, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabio F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Perazzo
authors.forename: Gustavo H B
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Luis G V
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Jose C T
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: N P Dhammika
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Nanayakkara
authors.forename: Jairo K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bastos
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002351:Carrageenan; D032561:Cotton Fiber; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006099:Granuloma / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D026321:Piperaceae; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002351:Carrageenan; D019342:Acetic Acid