The results indicate that the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of Cc-SP2 could be of biomedical applicability as a new, natural tool in pain and acute inflammatory conditions.

No abstract

The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the sulfated polysaccharidic fraction obtained from red marine alga Gracilaria cornea (Gc-FI) were investigated using a paw edema model induced in rats by different inflammatory agents (carrageenan, dextran, serotonin, bradykinin, compound 48/80 or L-arginine). Gc-FI at the doses of 3, 9 or 27 mg/kg, subcutaneously - s.c., significantly inhibited rat paw edema induced by carrageenan and dextran, as confirmed by myeloperoxidase and Evans’ blue assessments, respectively. Gc-FI (9 mg/kg, s.c.) inhibited rat paw edema induced by histamine, compound 48/80 and L-arginine. Additionally, Gc-FI (9 mg/kg, s.c.) inhibited Cg-induced edema in animals with intact mast cells but did not inhibit that with degranulated mast cells by compound 48/80, revealing a protective role on mast cell membranes. Gc-FI down-regulated the IL-1β, TNF-α and COX-2 mRNA and protein levels compared with those of the carrageenan group, based on qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry analyses. After inhibition with ZnPP IX, a specific heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) inhibitor, the anti-inflammatory effect of Gc-FI was not observed in Cg-induced paw edema, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory effect of Gc-FI is, in part, dependent on the integrity of the HO-1 pathway. Gc-FI can target a combination of multiple points involved in inflammatory phenomena.

AmII has important antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties and represents an important therapeutic agent warranting future studies.

ABSTRACT

SP-Gb may be used as a tool for further investigations into the inflammatory processes associated with the hemoxigenase-1 pathway.

A incidência de doenças cardiovasculares e os efeitos adversos da heparinoterapia têm motivado a busca por novos agentes terapêuticos e os polissacarídeos sulfatados (PS) de algas marinhas têm sido reportados como fontes alternativas para tal. Objetivou-se avaliar o potencial anticoagulante dos PS totais (PST) isolados e fracionados das clorofíceas Caulerpa racemosa e Caulerpa cupressoides. Inicialmente, os PST foram extraídos com papaína em tampão acetato de sódio 0,1 M (pH 5,0) contendo cisteína 5 mM e EDTA 5 mM, seguidos de fracionamento em coluna de troca iônica de DEAE-celulose com gradiente de NaCl. As frações obtidas foram analisadas por eletroforese em gel de agarose a 0,5% e a atividade anticoagulante, mensurada pelo tempo de tromboplastina parcial ativada (TTPA), usando-se plasma humano normal e comparada a uma curva-padrão de heparina (193 UI mg-1). Verificaram-se semelhantes perfis cromatográficos entre os PS de ambas as espécies, porém com padrões de mobilidades distintas quando as frações foram comparadas por eletroforese. Os PS modificaram o TTPA, cujas atividades anticoagulantes foram de apenas 21,23 e 24,36 UI mg-1 , quando eluídos com 0,75 M de sal para C. racemosa e C. cupressoides, respectivamente. Portanto, PS anticoagulantes isolados das clorofíceas C. racemosa e C. cupressoides resultaram em efeitos anticoagulantes inferiores aos da heparina. Estudos comparativos dessas moléculas também são sugeridos como ferramentas auxiliares na identificação de algas do mesmo gênero.

We investigated structural features of polysaccharides from Ulva lactuca and their effects on the classical models of nociception and inflammation. Crude extract was obtained by enzymatic digestion and isolated by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The fraction with higher yield was used in the tests (SP-Ul). Swiss mice received SP-Ul (1, 3 or 9mg/kg; i.v.), 30min prior to injection of 0.8%-acetic acid or 1%-formalin or prior to a thermal stimulus. At same doses, SP-Ul was tested on Wistar rats on paw edema elicited by different irritants (carrageenan, dextran, bradykinin, histamine or serotonin). The results of infrared characterization indicated the presence of hydroxyl groups, sulfate, uronic acid and glycosidic linkages in all SP fractions spectrums. SP-Ul decreased significantly the antinociception in response to acetic acid or formalin (second phase), but not in the hot-plate test, suggesting that its analgesia occurs through a peripheral mechanism. SP-Ul did not reduce carrageenan-induced paw edema as supported by both histological and myeloperoxidase activity assessments. However, SP-Ul (1mg/kg; s.c.) reduced dextran-elicited edema, showing vascular anti-inflammatory effect, with bradykinin as major target because it did not reduce histamine- and serotonin-induced paw edemas. Therefore, SP-Ul acts on bradykinin pathway in its antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory responses.