title: Antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory activities of Xanthii Fructus extract.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Xanthii seeds commonly called Cang-Erzi were used as a traditional Chinese medicine for treating sinusitis, headache due to rheumatism and skin pruritus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In order to evaluate the actions of this plant, studies were performed on antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory activities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aqueous extract of Xanthii Fructus (AXF) was evaluated in mice for anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model. The antinociceptive activity of AXF was evaluated by writhing and formalin tests. Antioxidant properties were assayed in terms of antioxidant activity by scavenging abilities on 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), reducing activity and liposome protection. In addition, the total phenolic content was determined with spectrophotometric method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AXF exhibited significant radical scavenging and reducing activity. And oral treatment with AXF elicited inhibitory activity on acetic acid effect and reduced the formalin effect at the late-phase. In the anti-inflammatory test, AXF inhibited the development of paw edema induced by λ-carrageenan (Carr). AXF decreased the paw edema at the fifth hour after Carr administration, and increased the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the liver tissue and decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the edema paw. AXF decreased the level of serum nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α after Carr injection and AXF decreased the levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions in paw edema at the fifth hour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AXF shows antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory activities, supporting the folkloric usage of the plant to treat various inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cosmetic Science, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, 60, Erh-Jen Road, Sec.1, Jen-Te, Tainan 717, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Hsing
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Bor-Sen
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chuan-Sung
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Sakae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amagaya
authors.forename: Wen-Tsong
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Shyh-Shyun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Pei-Hsin
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Shie
authors.forename: Guan-Jhong
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031210:Xanthium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts