Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Asteraceae) in different experimental models.
OBJECTIVE
The aerial parts of Baccharis dracunculifolia D.C., popularly known as "alecrim do campo", are used in folk medicine as anti-inflammatory. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the crude hydroalcoholic extract obtained from leaves of Baccharis dracunculifolia (BdE), which have not been reported.


METHODS
BdE was analyzed by HPLC and in vivo evaluated (doses ranging from 50 to 400mg/kg, p.o.) by using the acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions, paw oedema induced by carrageenan or histamine, overt nociception models using capsaicin, glutamate or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), formalin-induced nociception and mechanical hypernociception induced by carrageenan or complete Freund adjuvant (CFA). As positive controls it was used paracetamol in both acetic acid and formalin tests; dipyrone in capsaicin, glutamate and PMA-induced nociception; indomethacin in CFA and carrageenan-induced hypernociception models. In addition, the in vitro effects of BdE on COX-2 activity and on the activation of NF-kappaB were also evaluated.


RESULTS
BdE (50-400mg/kg, p.o.) significantly diminished the abdominal constrictions induced by acetic acid, glutamate and CFA. Furthermore, BdE also inhibited the nociceptive responses in both phases of formalin-induced nociception. BdE, administered orally, also produced a long-lasting anti-hypernociceptive effect in the acute model of inflammatory pain induced by carrageenan. It was also observed the inhibition of COX-2 activity by BdE.


CONCLUSIONS
In summary, the data reported in this work confirmed the traditional anti-inflammatory indications of Baccharis dracunculifolia leaves and provided biological evidences that Baccharis dracunculifolia, like Brazilian green propolis, possess antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities.
dos Santos
Diogo A
DA
Mestrado em Ciências Farmacêuticas, CCS, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, Itajaí, SC, Brazil.
Fukui
Murilo de J
Mde J
Dhammika Nanayakkara
N P
NP
Khan
Shabana I
SI
Sousa
João Paulo B
JP
Bastos
Jairo K
JK
Andrade
Sérgio F
SF
da Silva Filho
Ademar A
AA
Quintão
Nara L M
NL
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019659:Asteraceae; D031175:Baccharis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010936:Plant Extracts