title: Pereskia aculeata Miller leaves present in vivo topical anti-inflammatory activity in models of acute and chronic dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The leaves of Pereskia aculeata Miller (Cactaceae), known as Barbados gooseberry, are used in Brazilian traditional medicine as emollients and to treat skin wounds and inflammation. This study investigated the topical anti-inflammatory activity of the hexane fraction (HF) obtained from the methanol extract of the leaves of this species in models of acute and chronic ear dermatitis in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice ear edema was induced by topical application of croton oil, arachidonic acid, capsaicin, ethyl-phenylpropiolate and phenol; and by subcutaneous injection of histamine. Ear biopsies were obtained to determine the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α cytokines by ELISA assay. Histopathological analysis was also performed to evaluate the HF activity in croton oil multiple application test. In addition, acute dermal irritation/corrosion test in rats was accomplished. HF chemical characterization was performed by GC-MS analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HF intensively reduced the inflammatory process induced by all irritant agents used, except for arachidonic acid. This activity is related, at least in part, to the reduction of IL-6 and TNF-α cytokines levels. Moreover, when the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone was used, HF failed to respond to the croton oil application.The results strongly suggested a glucocorticoid-like effect, which was reinforced by the presence of considerable amounts of sterol compounds identified in HF. The acute dermal irritaton/corrosion test showed no signs of toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that the acute and chronic anti-inflammatory activity of P. aculeata leaves is very promising, and corroborates to better understand their ethnopharmacological applications.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Products, Department of Biochemistry, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, MG Brazil.
authors.forename: Nícolas de Castro Campos
authors.initials: Nde C
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Products, Department of Biochemistry, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, MG Brazil.
authors.forename: Danielle Cunha
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Products, Department of Biochemistry, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, MG Brazil.
authors.forename: Josiane Mello
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Products, Department of Biochemistry, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, MG Brazil.
authors.forename: Jéssica Leiras Mota
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Conegundes
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, 36036 900, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Cristina Moura
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gualberto
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Microbiology and Immunology, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, 36036 900, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jacy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gameiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, MG Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moreira Chedier
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, 36036 900, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Christina Marques Nogueira
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Castañon
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bioactive Natural Products, Department of Biochemistry, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, MG Brazil. Electronic address: elita.scio@ufjf.edu.br.
authors.forename: Elita
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scio
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D001938:Brazil; D029421:Cactaceae; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D018515:Plant Leaves; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D023422:Skin Irritancy Tests; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C577686:interleukin-6, mouse
keywords: 115250; 173183; 222284; 5280794; 9018; 92097; Campesterol; Edema; Herbal medicine; Pereskia aculeata; Phytol; Phytosterols; PubChem CID; Sitosterol; Skin inflammation; Stigmasterol; Taraxerol; taraxasterol