Acute effect of Capparis spinosa root extracts on rat articular pain

Abstract

a b s t r a c tEthnopharmacological relevance: 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. Aim of the study: To evaluate the pain relieving properties of a Syrian cultivar of Capparis spinosa roots in rat models of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and methods: Decoction (DEC) and hydroalcoholic extract (EtH 2 O) were obtained from powdered roots; the latter was further separated in CH 2 Cl 2 and aqueous (H 2 O-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 CH 2 Cl 2 fraction) 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 300 mg kg À 1 ) were acutely administered p.o.. Powdered roots (300 mg kg ) significantly reduced hypersensitivity to mechanical noxious stimuli as well as spontaneous pain evaluated as hind limb bearing alterations in both models. The CH 2 Cl 2 and the H 2 O-Res (30 mg kg À 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.

Phytochemical and Pharmacological Properties of Capparis spinosa as a Medicinal Plant

“…C. spinosa root extracts were reported to relieve pain in complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced rheumatoid arthritis and mono-iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis male Sprague-Dawley rats [ 66 ]. It is suggested that the pain reliever effect of C. spinosa roots could be due to the presence of spermidine alkaloids which have anti-inflammatory effects [ 66 ].…”

“…C. spinosa root extracts were reported to relieve pain in complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced rheumatoid arthritis and mono-iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis male Sprague-Dawley rats [ 66 ]. It is suggested that the pain reliever effect of C. spinosa roots could be due to the presence of spermidine alkaloids which have anti-inflammatory effects [ 66 ]. Similarly, the lyophilised methanolic extracts from flowering buds of C. spinosa was also reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory effect by reducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PGE 2 ) induced by IL-1β on human chondrocytes [ 74 ].…”

Capparis spinosa Fruit Ethanol Extracts Exert Different Effects on the Maturation of Dendritic Cells

“…In China, C. spinosa (also named wild watermelon) mainly distributed in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which is a kind of sand binding plant and its buds, leaves, roots, and fruits have been used in traditional Uighur Medicine to treat gout and rheumatoid arthritis for a long time [ 8 ]. Recently, many studies have been reported that C. spinosa contains a lot of biochemical compounds including flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenols, saponins, terpenoids, lectin, essential oils, glycosinolate, and glycosides [ 6 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ], which exhibited a broad range of activities such as anti-inflammatory [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ], anti-viral [ 17 , 18 ], anti-allergeric [ 19 ], anti-arthritic [ 20 ], anti-tumor [ 9 , 17 , 21 ], anti-oxidant [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ], anti-nociceptive [ 27 , 28 ], anti-diabetic [ 4 , 29 ], anti-hepatotoxic [ 30 ], anti-hyperglycemic [ 31 ], hypolipidemic [ 32 ], and immunomodulatory [ 18 , 33 ]. However, the effect of C. spinosa on the maturation and cytokine production of DCs is still elusive.…”

Intra-articular mucilages: behavioural and histological evaluations for a new model of articular pain

“…Articular damage was induced by injection of CFA (Sigma‐Aldrich) into the tibiotarsal joint . More details are provided in the .…”