Investigations on the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities of the leaves of Uncaria guianensis (Aublet) J. F. Gmelin.
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.
Carvalho
M V
MV
Departamento de Farmacologia Aplicada, Far-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Sizenando Nabuco 100, 21041-250 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. gracahen@far.fiocruz.br
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Siani
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Valente
L M M
LM
Henriques
M G M O
MG
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
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