Author(s): Lima, Flávia Oliveira de ; Alves, Vivian ; Barbosa Filho, José Maria ; Almeida, Jackson Roberto Guedes da Silva ; Rodrigues, Luis Cezar ; Soares, Milena Botelho Pereira ; Villarreal, Cristiane Flora
Date: 2013
Origin: Oasisbr
Subject(s): Lonchocarpus araripensis; Lupeol; Antinociception; Inflammatory pain; Post-operative pain; Cytokines
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana. Feira de Santana, BA, Brasil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Laboratório de Tecnologia Farmacêutica. João Pessoa, PB, Brasil
Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Laboratório de Tecnologia Farmacêutica. João Pessoa, PB, Brasil
Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Laboratório de Tecnologia Farmacêutica. João Pessoa, PB, Brasil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Hospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Universidade Federal da Bahia. Faculdade de Farmácia. Salvador, BA, Brasil
The present study investigates the antinociceptive properties of lupeol inmodels of inflammatory and post-operative pain, as well as its mechanisms of action. The effects of lupeol were tested against acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin test, carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia, and post-operative pain model. Cytokine levels were determined by ELISA. Mice motor performance was evaluated in the rota rod and open-field tests. Pre-treatment of mice with lupeol (5–100mg/kg IP) produced a dose-related inhibition of writhing in mice. The maximal antinociception produced by lupeol (60mg/kg) was unaffected in mice pre-treated with yohimbine (a2 adrenoceptor antagonist; 2mg/kg IP), L-arginine (substrate for nitric oxide synthase; 600mg/kg IP), glibenclamide (the KATP-channel blocker; 2mg/kg IP), and methysergide maleate (serotoninergic receptors antagonist; 5mg/kg IP). Furthermore, lupeol (25–100mg/kg) inhibited the late phase of formalin test. Pre-treatment with lupeol (50 and 100mg/kg) inhibited the hyperalgesia and the local increase in tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and interleukin-1b (IL-1b) levels induced by carrageenan. In contrast, lupeol did not inhibit the post-operative pain. Lupeol-treated mice did not show any motor performance alterations or apparent systemic toxicity. Our results demonstrate that lupeol has consistent antinociceptive properties during inflammatory pain, but not post-operative pain, acting through the inhibition of IL-1b and TNF-a production.
