Aim of the study: Arrabidaea brachypoda (DC.) Bureau has been used to relieve general pain, painful joints and kidney stones in Brazilian folk medicine. Nevertheless, scientific information regarding this species is scarce; there are no reports related to its possible analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. This study was aimed at evaluating the traditional use of Arrabidaea brachypoda root using in vivo inflammatory and nociceptive models.
Materials and methods: Carrageenan-induced paw edema, peritonitis and fibrovascular tissue growth induced by s.c. cotton pellet implantation were used to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of Arrabidaea brachypoda roots ethanolic extract (AbEE) in rats. Formalin and acetic acid-induced writhing tests were used to investigate the antinociceptive activity in mice. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the fingerprint chromatogram of AbEE.
Results: The AbEE at test doses of 30-300 mg/kg p.o. demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects. AbEE reduced paw edema induced by carrageenan, inhibited leukocyte recruitment into the peritoneal cavity and, in the model of chronic inflammation using the cotton pellet-induced fibrovascular tissue growth in rats, significantly inhibited the formation of granulomatous tissue. The extracts at test doses of 30-300 mg/kg p.o. clearly demonstrated antinociceptive activity, except during the first phase of the formalin test. The presence of quercetin and phenolic compounds in the extract Arrabidaea brachypoda was confirmed using HPLC.
Conclusion: Arrabidaea brachypoda ethanol extract markedly demonstrated anti-inflammatory action in rats and antinociceptive activity in mice, which supports the previous claims of traditional use.
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