title: Acute effect of Capparis spinosa root extracts on rat articular pain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Capparis spinosa L. originates from dry regions of Asia and Mediterranean basin. In traditional medicine of these areas, infusions from caper root are considered to be beneficial for the treatment of rheumatism, gout and against abdominal pains.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the pain relieving properties of a Syrian cultivar of Capparis spinosa roots in rat models of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Decoction (DEC) and hydroalcoholic extract (EtH2O) were obtained from powdered roots; the latter was further separated in CH2Cl2and aqueous (H2O-Res) fractions. The extracts were characterized in terms of spermidine alkaloids by HPLC/DAD/MS and stachydrine by NMR. Different amount of free and glycosilated forms of capparispine and analogues (from 0.5% w/w for DEC up to 7.6% w/w for CH2Cl2fraction) were detected. Rat models of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis were induced by the intra-articular administration of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) or monosodium iodoacetate (MIA), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteenth days after CFA or MIA injection, the different preparations of Capparis spinosa (3, 30, 100 and 300mgkg-1) were acutely administered p.o.. Powdered roots (300mgkg-1), DEC (100mgkg-1), and EtH2O (300mgkg-1) significantly reduced hypersensitivity to mechanical noxious stimuli as well as spontaneous pain evaluated as hind limb bearing alterations in both models. The CH2Cl2and the H2O-Res (30mgkg-1) were the most potent in reverting pain threshold alterations despite the different content of free alkaloids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Capparis spinosa extracts relieved pain related to rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis after single administration. A synergistic effect due to a specific "phytochemical mixture" is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health - NEUROFARBA - Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maresca
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health - NEUROFARBA - Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Micheli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health - NEUROFARBA - Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy. Electronic address: lorenzo.mannelli@unifi.it.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Cesare Mannelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health - NEUROFARBA - Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tenci
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health - NEUROFARBA - Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Division, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Innocenti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health - NEUROFARBA - Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Division, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Mohamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khatib
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health - NEUROFARBA - Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Division, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mulinacci
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health - NEUROFARBA - Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ghelardini
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D031484:Capparis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D019807:Iodoacetic Acid; D008297:Male; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D066244:Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000700:Analgesics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D019807:Iodoacetic Acid
keywords: CFA; Caper root; MIA; Osteoarthritis; Rheumatoid arthritis; Spermidine alkaloids; Stachydrine