Dragon's blood from Croton urucurana (Baill.) attenuates visceral nociception in mice.
Dragon's blood, the red sap from Croton urucurana Baill. (Euphorbiaceae) has a profound history of traditional use in conditions such as inflammation, diarrhoea and gastrointestinal distress. Previous studies established its anti-inflammatory, antidiarrhoeal and analgesic properties and in this study we verified its potential to suppress visceral pain, using capsaicin- and cyclophosphamide-induced models of visceral nociception. Mice that received intra-colonic capsaicin (0.3%, 50 microl/animal) or intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (400 mg/kg) manifested spontaneous nociceptive behaviors or crises, which were significantly suppressed in animal groups treated with red sap (200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.) or that received N-acetylcysteine (750 mg/kg, i.p.) or morphine (7.5 mg/kg, s.c.), as positive controls. In capsaicin model, the antinociception produced by 200 mg/kg red sap was found to be naloxone-sensitive (2 mg/kg, i.p.), suggesting an opioid mechanism. In tests of open-field and pentobarbital-sleeping time, mice received 200mg/kg red sap showed no significant alterations in either locomotion frequency or on sleeping time, indicating that the observed antinociception is not a consequence of sedation or motor abnormality. These findings highlight the visceral antinociceptive property of Croton urucurana sap and further support its ethno-medical use to alleviate pain associated with gastrointestinal and other related disorders.
Departmento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Faculdade de Medicina,Universidade Federal do Ceará, Caixa Postal-3157, 60430-270 Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. vietrao@ufc.br
Vietla S
VS
Rao
Luilma A
LA
Gurgel
Roberto C P
RC
Lima-Júnior
Domingos T O
DT
Martins
Valdir
V
Cechinel-Filho
Flávia A
FA
Santos
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D029802:Croton / Q000737:chemistry*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009294:Narcotics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009270:Naloxone; D009020:Morphine; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D010424:Pentobarbital; C525191:dragon's blood; D003000:Clonidine; D002211:Capsaicin; D000111:Acetylcysteine