title: Characterization of anti-inflammatory effect and possible mechanism of action of Tibouchina granulosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tibouchina granulosa, popularly known as 'quaresmeira', belong to a genus widely used in the traditional medicine as infusions from their leaves. Other species of Tibouchina are used as antibacterial, antioxidant or antileishmanial. In this work, our objectives were to investigate the biological effects of T. granulosa in models of acute inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chemical analysis showed the presence of proanthocyanidins and flavonoids. Infusions from leaves of T. granulosa (1, 3, 10, 30 or 100 mg/kg) were orally administered to mice, and the anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated by the formalin-induced licking response, inhibition of carrageenan-induced cell migration into subcutaneous air pouch (SAP) and inhibition of inflammatory mediator production in inflammatory exudate collected from SAP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data indicate that tested doses of T. granulosa infusion reduced cell migration, protein extravasated to SAP and cytokine production (i.e. TNF-α and IL-10). All doses also inhibited the first and second phase of formalin-induced licking response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, our results indicate that leaves of T. granulosa present anti-inflammatory effect and can be useful in the preparation of new phytomedicines.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrea P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Sobrinho
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alan S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Minho
authors.affiliation: Instituto Vital Brazil, Setor de Fitoterápicos, Niterói, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leide L C
authors.initials: LLC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Faculdade de Farmácia, Departamento de Produtos Naturais e Alimentos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriel R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boylan
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patricia D
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6870-6745
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000494:pharmacology; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000379:methods; D035322:Melastomataceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D002351:Carrageenan
keywords: 
  Tibouchina granulosa
  ; cytokine; flavonoids; inflammation