Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activities ofCuscuta chinensisSeeds in Mice

Abstract

The seeds of Cuscuta chinensis, Cuscutae Semen, are commonly used as a medicinal material for treating the aching and weakness of the loins and knees, tonifying the defects of the liver and the kidney, and treating the diarrhea due to hypofunction of the kidney and the spleen. Since aching and inflammation are highly correlated with such diseases, the aim of this study is to investigate the possible antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the seeds of C. chinensis. The antinociceptive effect of the seeds of C. chinensis was evaluated via the acetic acid-induced writhing response and formalin-induced paw licking methods. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated via the λ-carrageenan induced mouse paw edema method. The results found that 100 and 500 mg/kg of the methanol extract of the seeds of C. chinensis( CC MeOH ) significantly decreased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively) the writhing response in the acetic acid assay. Additionally, 20-500 mg/kg of CC MeOH significantly decreased licking time at the early (20 and 100 mg/kg, p < 0.001) and late phases (100 mg/kg, p < 0.01; 500 mg/kg, p < 0.001) of the formalin test, respectively. Furthermore, CC MeOH (100 and 500 mg/kg) significantly decreased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively) edema paw volume four hours after λ-carrageenan had been injected. The results in the following study also revealed that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of CC MeOH may be due to declined levels of NO and MDA in the edema paw by increasing the activities of SOD, GPx and GRd in the liver. In addition, CC MeOH also decreased IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB, TNF-α, and COX-2 levels. This is the first study to demonstrate the possible mechanisms for the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of CC MeOH in vivo. Thus, it provides evidence for the treatment of Cuscutae Semen in inflammatory diseases.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Cuscuta campestris Yunck. Whole Plant on Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Chronic Liver Injury in Mice

“…Although hyperoside and quercetin have been detected in both of seeds and whole plant of C. campestris , their amounts and the other flavonoids are different [4,20]. Hyperoside have been shown to increase the level of heme oxygenase-1, an important enzyme in antioxidant defense systems to reduce oxidative stress [21].…”

“…Quercetin has shown a high antioxidant activity by reducing the production of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide [20,22]. The methanol extract of the seeds of Cuscuta chinensis containing hyperoside, quercetin and kaempferol have been reported to increase the activities of SOD, GPx and GRd in the liver [4]. Hyperoside and quercetin have been shown to exhibit hepatoprotective effect against CCl 4 -induced liver injury [23,24].…”

“…The serum was obtained as descripted previously [4]. Serum ALT, AST, triglyceride and cholesterol were measured using spectrophotometric diagnostic kits (Roche, Berlin, Germany).…”

“…Some phytochemical and pharmacological studies have reported the beneficial activities of Cuscuta seeds [1]. For example, Cuscuta seeds have activities to improve defective kidneys [2], prevent liver against damage [3] and alleviate inflammation/pain [4]. Crude polysaccharides from Cuscuta seeds have an immunostimulating activity [5].…”

Medicinal uses, pharmacology, and phytochemistry of Convolvulaceae plants with central nervous system efficacies: A systematic review

“…In the genus Cuscuta , the whole plants of Cuscuta arvensis (Koca et al, ), Cuscuta campestris (Agha et al, ; Ghule et al, ), and C. chinensis (Akbar et al, ); the seeds of C. chinensis (Liao et al, ); and the stems of C. reflexa (Pal et al, ) all show analgesic effects in different animal models. Koca et al () reported that the methanol extract of Cu.…”