Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the ethanolic extracts from Zanthoxylum riedelianum (Rutaceae) leaves and stem bark

Abstract

We have evaluated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of the leaves (LCE) and stem bark (BCE) crude extracts of Zanthoxylum riedelianum (Rutaceae). Different fractions of the stem bark extract (hexane, BCEH; dichloromethane, BCED; ethyl acetate, BCEE; and lyophilized aqueous residual, BCEW) were also investigated. We studied the effects of the extracts and fractions using the rat paw oedema test induced by carrageenan, dextran, histamine or nystatin; the mouse abdominal constriction test; the mouse hot-plate test (only for LCE and BCE); and the mouse formalin test. Both extracts and all BCE fractions displayed anti-inflammatory activity in the carrageenan-induced oedema model, but not for dextran, histamine or nystatin. Considering the analgesic models, both extracts showed antinociceptive activity, but BCE was more active than LCE in models of central pain. All BCE fractions showed significant inhibition in the abdominal constriction test and in both phases of the formalin test. When BCED was submitted to phytochemical procedures it led to the isolation of six lignans (sesamin, methylpluviatolide, dimethylmatairesinol, piperitol-4(')-O-(gamma),(gamma)-dimethylallyl ether, kaerophyllin and hinokinin), and a triterpene (lupeol). Inhibition of cyclooxygenase and its metabolites may have been involved in the mechanism of action of this plant, considering previous studies reporting the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity for the identified lignans, as well as anti-inflammatory activity for lupeol.

Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Sesame Oil and Sesamin

“…Our results revealed that the sesame oil and sesamin reduced the abdominal writhes induced by acetic acid showing antinociceptive effect. In addition, our data extend previous observations showing that palmitic acetic [7] and sesamin [45,46] inhibit acid-induced in mice. The mechanism of this effect could be related the prostaglandin synthesis inhibition as suggested for linoleic acid, one of the constituents of the sesame oil [3].…”

Chemical and Biological Investigation of Ochrosia elliptica Labill. Cultivated ‎in Egypt

“…These results are in accordance with previous findings from the literature in which lupeol and lupeol acetate were reported to exhibit higher anti-inflammatory activity than indomethacin in rat and mouse models of inflammation [27,28]. Lupeol was reported to act as an anti-inflammatory agent with a mechanism similar to COX-selective inhibitor drugs [29], as well as, in-vitro inhibition of PGE2 and tumournecrosis factor-α [30]. Ursolic acid was as well reported to have anti-inflammatory, in addition to antioxidant and cytotoxic activities [31].…”

Beneficial health effects of lupeol triterpene: A review of preclinical studies

“…Employing inflammation-associated mouse models, several studies have established the anti-inflammatory potential of lupeol (Davis et al, 1994;Akihisa et al, 1996;Geetha and Varalakshmi 1999b;Fernández et al, 2001a,b;Ramirez Apan et al, 2004;Lima et al, 2007). Lupeol treatment has been shown to reduce the inflammation in mouse models of arthritis and bronchial asthma (Geetha and Varalakshmi, 2001;Vasconcelos et al, 2008).…”