Involvement of NO in the inhibitory effect of Calotropis procera latex protein fractions on leukocyte rolling, adhesion and infiltration in rat peritonitis model.
OBJECTIVE
The latex of Calotropis procera has been used in the traditional medicinal system for the treatment of leprosy, ulcers, tumors, piles and diseases of liver, spleen, abdomen and toothache. It comprises of a non-dialyzable protein fraction (LP) that exhibits anti-inflammatory properties and a dialyzable fraction (DF) exhibiting pro-inflammatory properties. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of LP sub-fractions on neutrophil functions and nociception in rodent models and to elucidate the mediatory role of nitric oxide (NO).


METHODS
The LP was subjected to ion exchange chromatography and the effect of its three sub-fractions (LP(PI), LP(PII) and LP(PIII)) thus obtained was evaluated on leukocyte functions in the rat peritonitis model and on nociception in the mouse model.


RESULTS
LP sub-fractions exhibit distinct protein profile and produce a significant decrease in the carrageenan and DF induced neutrophil influx and exhibit anti-nociceptive property. The LP and its sub-fractions produced a marked reduction in the number of rolling and adherent leukocytes in the mesenteric microvasculature as revealed by intravital microscopy. The anti-inflammatory effect of LP(PI), the most potent anti-inflammatory fraction of LP, was accompanied by an increase in the serum levels of NO. Further, our study shows that NO is also involved in the inhibitory effect of LP(PI) on neutrophil influx.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that LP fraction of Calotropis procera comprises of three distinct sets of proteins exhibiting anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties of which LP(PI) was most potent in inhibiting neutrophil functions and its effects are mediated through NO production.
Ramos
Márcio V
MV
Departamento de Bioquímica de Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Campus do Pici, Cx. Postal 6033, Fortaleza-Ce Brasil, CEP 60451-970, Brazil. vramos@ufc.br
Oliveira
Jefferson S
JS
Figueiredo
Jozy G
JG
Figueiredo
Ingrid S T
IS
Kumar
Vijay L
VL
Bitencourt
Flávio S
FS
Cunha
F Q
FQ
Oliveira
Raquel S B
RS
Bomfim
Liezelotte R
LR
Vitor Lima-Filho
José
J
Alencar
Nylane M N
NM
D000818:Animals; D031107:Calotropis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D007840:Latex / Q000494:pharmacology*; D036904:Leukocyte Rolling / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000098:blood supply; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D007840:Latex; D010940:Plant Proteins; D009569:Nitric Oxide