title: Evaluation of the pharmacological activity of the Alternanthera brasiliana aqueous extract.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze (Amarantaceae) is widely used in Brazilian traditional medicine as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the potential anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic, and locomotor effect of the infusions in preclinical models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by a carrageenan-induced pleurisy test in Wistar rats (200 and 400 mg/kg, n = 6-7). Analgesic activity was evaluated by the number of abdominal contractions induced by 0.6% acetic acid administered to Swiss mice (25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, n = 10). Effects on the central nervous system (CNS) were evaluated in Wistar rats (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, n = 10) using open field and plus maze models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Possible anti-inflammatory activity was indicated by the significant reduction of 19.8% for 200 mg/kg (p < 0.05) and 23.9% for 400 mg/kg (p < 0.05) of polymorphonuclear cells in pleural exudate. Analgesic activity was suggested by the significant reduction (p < 0.01) of number of abdominal contractions for all doses under study. No anxiolytic effect was noted, but there was an increase in the number of rearings in the group of rats treated with 100 mg/kg dose (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the aqueous extract of the leaves of A. brasiliana has a potential pharmacological effect on inflammation and pain.
authors.affiliation: Feevale University, Health Science Institute, Campus II - RS 239, Novo Hamburgo-RS-Brazil.
authors.forename: Elen Luiza Pelisoli
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Formagio
authors.forename: Monique Theissen
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mendel
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fracasso
authors.forename: Jéssica Gil
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Knobloch
authors.forename: Paula Winckler
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Laís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kehl
authors.forename: Rage Weidner
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Maluf
authors.forename: Simone Ulrich
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Picoli
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ardenghi
authors.forename: Edna Sayuri
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Suyenaga
mesh_terms: D027703:Amaranthaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts