title: Investigations on the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities of the leaves of Uncaria guianensis (Aublet) J. F. Gmelin.
abstract: Uncaria guianensis (Aublet) J. F. Gmelin is an herbal medicine from tropical areas of South and Central America. We investigated the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties of an ethanolic extract of U. guianensis leaves, containing alkaloids, flavonoids and phenol carboxylic acids, as revealed by thin layer chromatography (TLC). Oral pre-treatment with U. guianensis inhibited zymosan-induced paw oedema (500 mg/paw) and pleural exudation (100 mg/kg) within 4 h (25-200 mg/kg). U. guianensis (100 mg/kg) inhibited total leukocyte and neutrophil numbers in the pleural cavity 4 h after zymosan stimulation. Pre-treatment with U. guianensis (100 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited total leukocyte, neutrophil and eosinophil recruitment into the pleural cavity 24 h after LPS (250 ng/cavity, i.t.). Pre-treatment with U. guianensis inhibited paw oedema (25-200 mg/kg) induced by ovalbumin (OVA) within 1 h, and neutrophil and eosinophil recruitment into the mice pleural cavity 24 h after OVA (100 mg/kg). In vitro data revealed that U. guianensis impaired LPS-induced nitric oxide and CXCL8 generation by murine peritoneal macrophages, as well as OVA-induced interleukin-5 synthesis by previously sensitized spleen cells. These results demonstrate that U. guianensis leaves provide effective anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia Aplicada, Far-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100, 21041-250 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. gracahen@far.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Penido
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Siani
authors.forename: L M M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: M G M O
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Henriques
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054360:Chemokine CXCL1; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000378:metabolism; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D032070:Uncaria / Q000737:chemistry*; D015054:Zymosan
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D054360:Chemokine CXCL1; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; C475895:Cxcl1 protein, mouse; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D015054:Zymosan