Mechanisms Involved in the Anti-Inflammatory Action of a Polysulfated Fraction from Gracilaria cornea in Rats

Abstract

The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the sulfated polysaccharidic fraction obtained from red marine alga Gracilaria cornea (Gc-FI) were investigated using a paw edema model induced in rats by different inflammatory agents (carrageenan, dextran, serotonin, bradykinin, compound 48/80 or L-arginine). Gc-FI at the doses of 3, 9 or 27 mg/kg, subcutaneously - s.c., significantly inhibited rat paw edema induced by carrageenan and dextran, as confirmed by myeloperoxidase and Evans’ blue assessments, respectively. Gc-FI (9 mg/kg, s.c.) inhibited rat paw edema induced by histamine, compound 48/80 and L-arginine. Additionally, Gc-FI (9 mg/kg, s.c.) inhibited Cg-induced edema in animals with intact mast cells but did not inhibit that with degranulated mast cells by compound 48/80, revealing a protective role on mast cell membranes. Gc-FI down-regulated the IL-1β, TNF-α and COX-2 mRNA and protein levels compared with those of the carrageenan group, based on qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry analyses. After inhibition with ZnPP IX, a specific heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) inhibitor, the anti-inflammatory effect of Gc-FI was not observed in Cg-induced paw edema, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory effect of Gc-FI is, in part, dependent on the integrity of the HO-1 pathway. Gc-FI can target a combination of multiple points involved in inflammatory phenomena.

Neuroprotective Effects of Sulphated Agaran from Marine Alga Gracilaria cornea in Rat 6‐Hydroxydopamine Parkinson's Disease Model: Behavioural, Neurochemical and Transcriptional Alterations

“…The 2 −ΔΔCt method was used to determine the relative expression, and all of the values are expressed relative to the levels in the saline group (untreated, n = 10 per group), which were arbitrarily set to 1, as mean ± standard error of the mean (S.E.M.) .…”

“…Marine algae have attracted special interest as good sources of sulphated polysaccharides (SP) and have a range of uses in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries and in biotechnology . Previous studies from our group demonstrated certain biological activities of SP, such as anticoagulant , antithrombotic , antimicrobial , antioxidant , anxiolytic , antinociceptive and anti‐inflammatory activities. Furthermore, toxicological studies have reported that SP are well tolerated in experimental animals .…”

“…Recently, Coura et al . reported that a sulphated polysaccharide isolated from the red marine alga Gracilaria cornea J. Agardh (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) presented in vivo antinociceptive and anti‐inflammatory activities and did not present toxic effects. Gracilaria cornea is a red marine alga belonging to the family Gracilariaceae and is widely encountered along the coast of Brazil.…”

Investigation of Anti-Inflammatory and Antinociceptive Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Artemisia Afra in Wistar Rats

“…Development of inflammation due to carrageenan administration is believed to involve two phases -early and late phase [18,23]. The release of histamine and serotonin by mast cells characterize the first phase which lasts up to an hour while the second phase is mediated by the release of prostaglandin E 2 and other cytokines [24]. In the present study, A. afra demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects, p<0.05, against edema induced by carrageenan particularly from the 3 rd through to the 5 th h. This may suggest potential antiprostaglandin properties.…”

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of <i>o</i>-Vanillic Acid on Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Macrophages and Inflammation Models

“…The inflammatory response is characterized by the release of various mediators, such as histamine, serotonin, bradykinin, and prostaglandin, which results in capillary permeability and leukocyte migration at the inflammation site [23,24]. To study the effect of o-VA in vivo, acetic acid-induced capillary permeability and zymosan-induced leukocyte migration models were used.…”