title: Peripheral antinociception and anti-inflammatory effects of sulphated polysaccharides from the alga Caulerpa mexicana.
abstract: Sulphated polysaccharides from marine algae are widely used in biotechnological and pharmaceutical areas. In this study, we evaluated the effects of sulphated polysaccharides from the green marine alga Caulerpa mexicana (Cm-SPs) in nociceptive and inflammatory models in rodents. Cm-SPs (10 or 20 mg/kg), administered i.v. in Swiss mice, significantly reduced nociceptive responses, as measured by the number of writhes in response to acetic acid. Cm-SPs (10 or 20 mg/kg) also reduced second-phase responses in the formalin test, but did not exhibit a significant antinociceptive effect in the hot plate test, suggesting that its antinociceptive action occurs through a peripheral mechanism. Cm-SPs (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg), administered s.c. in wistar rats 1 hr before carrageenan, dextran, histamine or serotonin, were tested in paw oedema models. Cm-SPs (10 or 20 mg/kg) reduced carrageenan-induced paw oedema and myeloperoxidase activity in the paw. In addition, Cm-SPs (20 mg/kg) inhibited dextran- or histamine-induced paw oedema, but not serotonin-induced oedema, suggesting that histamine is the major target of Cm-SPs anti-oedematogenic activity. Finally, Cm-SPs (20 mg/kg) administered in mice did not show significant signs of toxicity. In conclusion, Cm-SPs appear to be promising natural modulatory agents for pain and inflammatory conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil; Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Ceará, Acaraú, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Gerardo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.forename: José Ariévilo Gurgel
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Edfranck
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Sousa Oliveira Vanderlei
authors.forename: Ricardo Basto
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Ana Luíza Gomes
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Quinderé
authors.forename: Chistiane Oliveira
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Coura
authors.forename: Ianna Wivianne Fernandes
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.forename: Hellíada Vasconcelos
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Mirna Marques
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.forename: Norma Maria Barros
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Benevides
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000009:adverse effects; D046068:Caulerpa / Q000737:chemistry*; D003911:Dextrans / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003911:Dextrans; D011134:Polysaccharides; D012701:Serotonin; D006632:Histamine; D002351:Carrageenan; D009195:Peroxidase