Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of 7-hydroxycoumarin in experimental animal models: potential therapeutic for the control of inflammatory chronic pain.
OBJECTIVE
In the present study we investigated the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects of 7-hydroxycoumarin (7-HC) in animal models.


METHODS
The effects of oral 7-HC were tested against acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin test, tail flick test, complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced hypernociception, carrageenan-induced paw oedema, lipopolysaccharide-induced fever and the rota rod test.


RESULTS
7-HC (3-60 mg/kg) produced a dose-related antinociception against acetic acid-induced writhing in mice and in the formalin test. In contrast, treatment with 7-HC did not prevent thermal nociception in the tail flick test. A single treatment with 7-HC, 60 mg/kg, produced a long-lasting antinociceptive effect against CFA-induced hypernociception, a chronic inflammatory pain stimulus. Notably, at 60 mg/kg per day over 4 days the administration of 7-HC produced a continuous antinociceptive effect against CFA-induced hypernociception. 7-HC (30-120 mg/kg) produced anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects against carrageenan-induced inflammation and lipopolysaccharide-induced fever, respectively. Moreover, 7-HC was found to be safe with respect to ulcer induction. In the rota rod test, 7-HC-treated mice did not show any motor performance alterations.


CONCLUSIONS
The prolonged antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of 7-HC, in association with its low ulcerogenic activity, indicate that this molecule might be a good candidate for development of new drugs for the control of chronic inflammatory pain and fever.
Barros
Taís A de Almeida
TA
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil.
de Freitas
Luis A R
LA
Filho
José M B
JM
Nunes
Xirley P
XP
Giulietti
Ana M
AM
de Souza
Glória E
GE
dos Santos
Ricardo R
RR
Soares
Milena B P
MB
Villarreal
Cristiane F
CF
D000208:Acute Disease; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014468:Umbelliferones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D014468:Umbelliferones; C031477:7-hydroxycoumarin