A report of a galactan from marine alga Gelidium crinale with in vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects.
The sulfated galactan of the red marine alga Gelidium crinale (SG-Gc) was purified by ion exchange chromatography and tested by intravenous (i.v.) route in rodent experimental models of inflammation and nociception. The anti-inflammatory activity of SG-Gc (0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg/kg) was evaluated in the model of rat paw edema induced by different inflammatory stimuli, while SG-Gc (0.1, 1 and 10 mg/kg) antinociceptive effect was assessed in models of nociception/hyperalgesia elicited by chemical (formalin test), thermal (hot plate), and mechanical (von Frey) stimuli in mice. In addition, the toxicity was evaluated after rat treatment with SG-Gc (1 mg/kg; i.v.) during 10 days, followed by analysis of the wet weight of animal's body/organs and hematological/biochemical parameters. Sulfated galactan of G. crinale inhibited the time course of dextran-induced paw edema, at all doses, showing maximal effect at 1 mg/kg (42%) and that induced by carrageenan at 0.01 (18%) and 1 mg/kg (20%), but was ineffective on the edema elicited by zymosan. At the highest dose, SG-Gc also inhibited the paw edema induced by histamine (49%), compound 48/80 (32%), and phospholipase A(2) (44%). Sulfated galactan of G. crinale inhibited both neurogenic and inflammatory phases of the formalin test, at all doses, and at 10 mg/kg, the animals flinch reaction in the von Frey test in the 1st and 3rd h by 19 and 26%, respectively. Additionally, SG-Gc treatment was well tolerated by animals. In conclusion, SG-Gc presents anti-inflammatory effect involving the inhibition of histamine and arachidonic acid metabolites and also antinociceptive activity, especially the inflammatory pain with participation of the opioid system.
Laboratório de Fisio-Farmacologia da Inflamação-LAFFIN, Instituto Superior de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Av. Paranjana, 1700, 60740-000 Fortaleza-CE, Brazil.
Albertina A S
AA
de Sousa
Norma M B
NM
Benevides
Alana
A
de Freitas Pires
Felipe P
FP
Fiúza
Maria G R
MG
Queiroz
Thamires M F
TM
Morais
Maria G
MG
Pereira
Ana M S
AM
Assreuy
D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000009:adverse effects; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005685:Galactans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D059225:Nociception / Q000187:drug effects*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000737:chemistry
D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005685:Galactans; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D002351:Carrageenan