title: Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Pomegranate Leaf Extract in LPS-Induced Peritonitis.
abstract: Folk medicine suggests that pomegranate (peels, seeds and leaves) has anti-inflammatory properties; however, the precise mechanisms by which this plant affects the inflammatory process remain unclear. Herein, we analyzed the anti-inflammatory properties of a hydroalcoholic extract prepared from pomegranate leaves using a rat model of lipopolysaccharide-induced acute peritonitis. Male Wistar rats were treated with either the hydroalcoholic extract, sodium diclofenac, or saline, and 1 h later received an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharides. Saline-injected animals (i. p.) were used as controls. Animals were culled 4 h after peritonitis induction, and peritoneal lavage and peripheral blood samples were collected. Serum and peritoneal lavage levels of TNF-αas well as TNF-αmRNA expression in peritoneal lavage leukocytes were quantified. Total and differential leukocyte populations were analyzed in peritoneal lavage samples. Lipopolysaccharide-induced increases of both TNF-αmRNA and protein levels were diminished by treatment with either pomegranate leaf hydroalcoholic extract (57 % and 48 % mean reduction, respectively) or sodium diclofenac (41 % and 33 % reduction, respectively). Additionally, the numbers of peritoneal leukocytes, especially neutrophils, were markedly reduced in hydroalcoholic extract-treated rats with acute peritonitis. These results demonstrate that pomegranate leaf extract may be used as an anti-inflammatory drug which suppresses the levels of TNF-αin acute inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação, Universidade CEUMA, Sao Luis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucia C F
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação, Universidade CEUMA, Sao Luis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aruanã J M C R
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pinheiro
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, Brazil.
authors.forename: João G G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisa Clínica, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raimundo A G
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil.
authors.forename: Selma N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, Brazil.
authors.forename: Iracelle C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação, Universidade CEUMA, Sao Luis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação, Universidade CEUMA, Sao Luis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elizabeth S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: André D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Luchessi
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vivian N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Silbiger
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Porto Velho, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nicolete
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação, Universidade CEUMA, Sao Luis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lidio G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Lima-Neto
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha