title: Sulfated polysaccharides isolated from the green seaweed Caulerpa racemosa plays antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in a way dependent on HO-1 pathway activation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Marine algae are abundant sources of sulfated polysaccharides with various biological activities. Consequently, their biomolecules are of great of commercial interest. In this study, we investigated the potential antinociceptive activity of a sulfated polysaccharide obtained from the green seaweed Caulerpa racemosa (CrII) and the involvement of the hemoxigenase-1 (HO-1) pathway in its anti-inflammatory effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a systemic evaluation to verify possible toxic effects of Crll after consecutive treatments. Swiss mice and Wistar rats were used for all experiments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Swiss mice, CrII (0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg) significantly reduced the number of abdominal contortions and the duration of paw licking in the second phase after treatment with acetic acid and formalin, respectively. However, CrII was unable to prolong the reaction time of thermally stimulated animals. The anti-inflammatory effect of CrII (0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg) was evidenced by a decreased number of leukocytes in the peritoneal cavities of the rats. CrII (0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg) also reduced the amount of paw edema induced by carrageenan (Cg) and dextran. The anti-inflammatory effect of CrII was confirmed by reduced levels of myeloperoxidase in the paw tissue of the Cg groups. After inhibition with ZnPP IX, a specific HO-1 phenotype inhibitor, the anti-inflammatory effect of CrII was no longer observed in Cg-induced paw edema tests. Consecutive Crll (1.0 mg/kg) for 14 days did not change any biochemical or histopathological parameters, or cause mortality of mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CrII did not produce any signs of toxicity and effectively decreased nociception and inflammation. Also, the anti-inflammatory effect of Crll is at least in part dependent on the integrity of the HO-1 pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, 60455-760, Brazil.
authors.forename: Natássia Albuquerque
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Ticiana Monteiro
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: Hellíada Vasconcelos
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Mirna Marques
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.forename: Helena Serra Azul
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Roberta Jeane Bezerra
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.forename: Norma Maria Barros
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Benevides
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002351:Carrageenan; D046068:Caulerpa; D003911:Dextrans; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000378:metabolism*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012624:Seaweed; D013431:Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003911:Dextrans; D011134:Polysaccharides; D013431:Sulfates; D005557:Formaldehyde; D002351:Carrageenan; D009195:Peroxidase; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); C491523:Hmox1 protein, rat; D019342:Acetic Acid