title: Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of lectin from marine red alga Pterocladiella capillacea.
abstract: Researchers see algae as a promising tool to discover both efficient and safe agents for pain therapy. We evaluated the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of lectin from the marine alga Pterocladiella capillacea lectin (PcL). PcL was purified and tested in classical models of nociception and inflammation. Male Swiss mice received PcL 30 min prior to receiving 0.8% acetic acid (10 microl/10 g, i.p.), 1% formalin (20 microl/intraplantar) or the hot plate test, and were compared to untreated animals or animals pretreated with indomethacin or morphine. PcL (0.9, 8.1 or 72.9 mg/kg, i.v.) significantly reduced the number of writhes (30%, 39%, and 52%, respectively). PcL (72.9 mg/kg, i.v.) also reduced (p<0.05) both the first and second phases of the formalin test by 58% and 87%, respectively. However, PcL (72.9 mg/kg) did not present significant antinociceptive effects in the hot plate test when compared to morphine, suggesting that its antinociceptive action occurs via peripheral rather than a central-acting mechanism. It was also observed that leukocyte migration was induced by carrageenan (500 microg/cavity) in male Wistar rats and that PcL (8.1 mg/kg, i.v.) significantly reduced neutrophil migration by 84%, as compared to untreated animals, suggesting inhibition of inflammatory mediators. The data indicated that PcL has peripheral actions with both anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Mister Hull s/n Bloco 907, 60.455-970, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luana Maria Castelo Melo
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Vilma
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Márjory Lima
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Holanda
authors.forename: Paula Goes
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.forename: José Ariévilo Gurgel
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Maria Edna Pereira
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Norma Maria Barros
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Benevides
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D002351:Carrageenan; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007213:Indomethacin; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009020:Morphine; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D037102:Lectins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005557:Formaldehyde; D009020:Morphine; D002351:Carrageenan; D019342:Acetic Acid; D007213:Indomethacin