Introduction: Cenostigma macrophyllum Tul. var. acuminata Teles Freire (Leguminosae) is locally known as "caneleiro" and its barks, leaves and flowers are used in folk medicine against stomach disorders and abdominal pain. HPLC analysis of hydroalcoholic fraction from leaves (Cm-HAF) indicated two biflavones as main constituents: agathisflavone and amentoflavone.Purpose: To investigate antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory/antiarthritic effects of Cm-HAF in animal models.
Materials and Methods:We used male Swiss mice (25-30 g) and female Wistar rats (150-210 g). Acute antinociception was evaluated using formalin, capsaicin and glutamate tests. Complete Freund´s adjuvant (CFA)-induced monoathritic rats were treated with Cm-HAF (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg p.o.) for 15 days and evaluated for acute D (0-1), sub-acute D (3-7) and chronic D (10-14) anti-inflammatory (paw edema) and antinociceptive effects (mechanical nociception). Histological evaluation of paws, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and alanine-amino transferase (ALT) dosage, total body weight variation, wet weight of kidneys and liver and macroscopical evaluation of gastric mucosae were performed on D (14).Results: Cm-HAF produced significant antinociceptive effect in capsaicin, glutamate tests and in the late phase of formalin test. CFA-induced monoarthritic rats treated with Cm-HAF (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg p.o.) showed no significant differences on paw diameter or histological evaluation, but showed a significant antinociception (Cm-HAF 100 and 200 mg/kg p.o.) similar to indomethacin (IND -3 mg/kg p.o.).
Conclusion:Cm-HAF has antinociceptive but not antiedematogenic/antiarthritic effects in rodents. These results contribute to the pharmacological knowledge of this species and support its ethnomedical use.
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