The efficacy of a lectin from Abelmoschus Esculentus depends on central opioid receptor activation to reduce temporomandibular joint hypernociception in rats

Chemical Composition, Nutritional Value, and Biological Evaluation of Tunisian Okra Pods (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)

“…The antinociceptive activity of the extract of Tunisian okra pods at 100 mg/kg (58.11%) were found to be higher than that of the methanolic extract of okra roots at the same concentration (36.99%) [ 28 ] and okra water extract (30.76%) [ 29 ]. More recently, Alves et al [ 8 ] evidenced the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of a lectin extracted from Brazilian okra’s seeds in the formalin-induced temporomandibular joint inflammatory hypernociception in rats.…”

“…In the past five years, sundry in-vitro and in-vivo research evidenced that A. esculentus extracts display prominent biological activities such as cardio, renal, gastro, and neuro-protective effects [ 4 ], as well as antioxidant, antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic [ 3 ], antifatigue, antibacterial [ 6 ], anti-inflammatory, and analgesic [ 8 ] properties. Nevertheless, and despite the aforementioned reports, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, an advanced characterization of its phenolic and volatile constitution is lacking.…”

The effect of natural products in animal models of temporomandibular disorders

“…23 Four studies investigated NP in zymosan-induced nociception. These studies showed that ethanol extract from roots of T. toxicaria , 15 lectins from the green seaweed C. cupressoides 9 and seeds of A. esculentus 21 , and the sulfated polysaccharide fraction from C. cupressoides 17 reduced nociception induced by zymosan. One study used nerve growth factor (NGF) to induce nociception in masseter muscle.…”

“…Seven studies investigated the effect of natural products on animals injected with formalin in the TMJ. The treatment with sulfated polysaccharides originated from the seaweed Solieria filiformis , 19 with polysulfated fraction of the seaweed Gracilaria cornea , 11 lectins isolated from Artocarpus incisa , 10 C. cupressoides 20 and A. esculentus , 21 (−)-α-bisabolol (topical or systemic) 22 or eucalyptol reduced formalin-induced nociception in the TMJ. 23 Four studies investigated NP in zymosan-induced nociception.…”

“… 16 In fact, HO-1 expression was associated with anti-inflammatory actions. 34 Alves, et al 21 (2018) also showed that the treatment with this lectin reduces TNF-α concentration and it is opioid-dependent. For the treatment with C. cupressoides lectin no alteration of HO-1 expression was detected in TMJ, in spite of the results of a previous study showing that this lectin inhibited the immunoreactivity of HO-1, cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and cyclooxygenase-2 in rat paws injected with carrageenan.…”