title: A novel antinociceptive sulphated polysaccharide of the brown marine alga Spatoglossum schroederi.
abstract: Sulfated polysaccharides (SP) of brown algae (Phaeophyta) are composed mainly of alpha- L-fucose, being classified as fucans, with recognized role in inflammation but not in nociception, which was already described for SP obtained from red algae. Here the SP of the brown marine alga S. schroederi (named Ss-SP) was isolated and assayed for the antinociceptive effect. Ss-SP was isolated by DEAE-cellulose, analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and evaluated in nociception models (Formalin, Hot plate, Von Frey) using Swiss mice (20-25g). Anion exchange chromatography provided four major fractions being F1 (Ss-SP) that of highest metachromatic activity and sugar content. Ss-SP inhibited both phases of the formalin test. In the first phase the paw licking (55.2 +/- 8.07s) was reduced by 45% (30.5 +/- 6.51s) and 40% (32.85 +/- 8.66s) at 0.1 and 1 mg/kg, respectively. In the second phase, Ss-SP was also inhibitory about 39%, but only at 1 mg/kg (83.0 +/- 15.70s) compared to formalin (136.8 +/- 10.27s). This inhibitory effect suggests a mixed mechanism similar to morphine, which was not confirmed in the hot plate test, a model of pain associated with central neurotransmission. However, Ss-SP reduced the animal reaction in response to stimulation withVon Frey filament at the 2nd and 3rd h (20.8 +/- 6.86% versus carrageenan: 47.9 +/- 5.83%; 33.3 +/- 7.71% versus carrageenan: 62.5 +/- 9.83%). Accordingly, the paw edema induced by carrageenan (0.08 +/- 0.01g) was potently reduced in 45.35% by Ss-SP pre-treatment (0.02 +/- 0.003g), corroborating the anti-inflammatory activity demonstrated for brown seaweed polysaccharides. In conclusion our data revealed for the first time the antinociceptive effect of Ss-SP which could be used as a new source of analgesic substances.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Engenharia de Pesca, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Mister Hull s/n Bloco 827, 60.356-000 Fortaleza-CE, Brasil. wladimir@ufc.br
authors.forename: Wladimir R L
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.forename: Paula Cristina W C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Natália Velloso F C
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Rômmulo Celly L
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Siqueira
authors.forename: Renata M F
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.forename: Ana Maria S
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Assreuy
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D000459:Phaeophyceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D011134:Polysaccharides