Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Aqueous Extracts from ThreeFlemingiaSpecies

Abstract

I-Tiao-Gung has long been used in the Kinmen area of Taiwan as an anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of rheumatic illness. The roots of Flemingia lineata (FL), Flemingia macrophylla (FM) and Flemingia prostrata (FP) are also used as I-Tiao-Gung in the Taiwan markets. In the present study, we investigated the analgesic effect of aqueous extracts of Flemingia lineata (FL), Flemingia macrophylla (FM), and Flemingia prostrata (FP) by acetic acid-induced writhing response, formalin test, and the anti-inflammatory effect of FM, FL and FP by lambda-carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. We also detected the changes in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GRx) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) of liver in the lambda-carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice to investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of FL and FM. The results showed that FL and FM significantly inhibited the acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin-induced licking time during the late phase (p < 0.001). FL and FM also significantly decreased the lambda-carrageenan-induced paw edema (p < 0.001). FL and FM significantly increased the GRx and GPx activities in the liver and decreased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in the edema paw (p < 0.001). These results indicated that FL and FM possessed analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of FL and FM might be related to the decrease in the level of MDA in the edema paw via increasing the activities of GPx and GRx in the liver and decreasing the NO level in the edema paw.

Phyto-SERM Constitutes from Flemingia macrophylla

“…The anti-inflammatory activity of F. macrophylla crude extract has been recently reported [11]. The authors utilized λ-carrageenan to induce inflammation and paw edema in mice.…”

“…The authors utilized λ-carrageenan to induce inflammation and paw edema in mice. The inflammation response has been linked to the neutrophils’ infiltration and the production of neutrophil-derived free radicals [11]. There is considerable evidence from clinical and experimental studies that the recruitment of neutrophils into joints is a critical hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis [40,41].…”

“…The roots of this plant have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of fractures, trauma, arthritis, rheumatism, and influenza. Previous studies reported that F. macrophylla crude extract exhibited neuroprotective [10], analgesic [11], and anti–inflammatory activities [11]. It was also found to be effective in the treatment of osteoporosis [12].…”

Isoflavonoid-RichFlemingia macrophyllaExtract Attenuates UVB-Induced Skin Damage by Scavenging Reactive Oxygen Species and Inhibiting MAP Kinase and MMP Expression

“…It has been reported that Flemingia macrophylla extract (FME) shows analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities in mice [12] as well as antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects in rats [13]. Furthermore, the flavonoids in Flemingia macrophylla have been demonstrated to inhibit A β -induced neurotoxicity [11].…”

The Components ofFlemingia macrophyllaAttenuate Amyloidβ-Protein Accumulation by Regulating Amyloidβ-Protein Metabolic Pathway

“…The stems or leaves have been used as an anti-inflammatory, blood circulation promotion and antidiabetic agent, all of which were relevant to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent research has suggested its neuroprotective activity against amyloid β (A β ) [3], hepatoprotective activity [4], antiinflammatory activity [5], and antiosteoporosis activity [6]. …”