title: Inhibitory effect of anethole in nonimmune acute inflammation.
abstract: Anethole [1-methoxy-4-(1-propenyl)benzene] occurs naturally as a major component of the essential oil of star anise (Illicium verum Hook.f., family Illiciaceae), comprising more than 90 % of its volatile components. Studies showed that this substance has antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anesthetic properties. In this study, the anti-inflammatory properties of anethole in animal models of nonimmune acute inflammation such as croton oil-induced ear edema and carrageenan-induced pleurisy were investigated. The investigated parameters were edema formation, leukocyte migration, and inflammatory mediators involved. Oral administration of anethole at a dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg reduced both the volume of pleural exudates and the number of migrated leukocytes. Levels of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PGE2) in the inflammatory exudate were reduced by treatment with anethole, but levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β were not significantly altered. In ear edema, the oral treatment with anethole inhibited the formation of exudate and the activity of myeloperoxidase, but not after topical administration. These results suggest that the anethole may be effective in controlling some nonimmune acute inflammation-related disease, probably by an inhibitory action on production and/or release of PGE2 and NO.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Inflammation, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Talita Perdigão
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Domiciano
authors.forename: Márcia Machado de Oliveira
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Dalalio
authors.forename: Expedito Leite
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Alessandra Mileni Versuti
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.forename: Camila Fernanda
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Estevão-Silva
authors.forename: Fernando Seara
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Silvana Martins
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Caparroz-Assef
authors.forename: Roberto Kenji Nakamura
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Cuman
authors.forename: Ciomar Aparecida
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bersani-Amado
mesh_terms: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000818:Animals; D000840:Anisoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002351:Carrageenan; D003436:Croton Oil; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D029523:Illicium; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000840:Anisoles; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D009566:Nitrates; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003436:Croton Oil; D002351:Carrageenan; D009195:Peroxidase; D015232:Dinoprostone; C006578:anethole