title: Antinociceptive action of limonexic acid obtained from Raulinoa echinata.
abstract: The antinociceptive effect of the limonexic acid isolate of Raulinoa echinata Cowan in four models of pain in mice is described. When evaluated against acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions, limonexic acid (10, 30 and 60 mg kg(-1), i.p.) produced dose-related inhibition of the number of constrictions, with a mean ID50 value of 43 (2.3-79) micromol kg(-1), and was more potent than some standard drugs. In the formalin test, limonexic acid inhibited both the first and second phases of formalin-induced pain. Furthermore, the effect was more pronounced in the second phase, with a mean ID50 value of 13.66 (9.35-19.61) micromol kg(-1), and had a pharmacological profile that was similar to standard drugs such as acetaminophen and acetyl salicylic acid. Limonexic acid also produced dose-related inhibition of glutamate- and capsaicin-induced pain, with mean ID50 values of 11.67 (8.51-16.0) micromol kg(-1) and 47.17 (36.51-60.93) micromol kg(-1), respectively. The mechanism of action is not completely understood, but seems to involve direct interaction with the GABAergic and nitroxidergic pathways.
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, CP 360, 88303-202, Itajaí - SC, Brazil. maique@univali.b
authors.forename: Maique W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Biavatti
authors.forename: Rosângela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Westerlon
authors.forename: Cristiani
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.forename: Ticiana Camila
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Márcia Maria
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: De Souza
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D036701:Limonins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D026602:Nitrergic Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018517:Plant Roots; D018547:Plant Stems; D027821:Rutaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D036701:Limonins; D010936:Plant Extracts; C525538:limonexic acid; D000082:Acetaminophen; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D001241:Aspirin