An analysis of the role of paulinia cupana (Guaraná) in blood IL-1b and brain IL-6 levels as well as brain IL-6 and TNF-a mRNA expression in mice.

Abstract

e21002 Background: Paulinia cupana also known as Guaraná is an amazonic plant which has been used for centuries as a tonic by indigenous populations. We have recently demonstrated that the dry crude extract of Guaraná is effective in preventing the treatment of cancer related fatigue (CRF) in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. Of note, CRF patients have been associated with high blood levels of IL-1beta and IL-6. Methods: female Balb/c mice were divided in 8 groups each with 6 to 8 animals each and treated as follows: 1) Normal Saline PO; 2) Excipient PO; 3) Dexamethasone 1mg/kg subcutaneously (SC) (positive control group; 4-6) Guaraná purified Extract (PC18) at 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg PO; 7-8) Gurana dry crude extract at 100 and 300 mg/kg PO. All animals, except those from Group 1 received 100 ml (2.5 µg/mice) of intraperitoneal Escherichia coli Lipopolyssacaride (LPS). Animals were evaluated for social and exploratory interaction (Fishkin and Winslow, 1997) and motor activity (Dunn e Swiergiel, 2005) before (0) and at 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours after the LPS treatment. Levels of IL-1 beta and IL-6 were measured in the blood by ELISA 2 hours after LPS injection (N=5 animals per group) and the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-12, TNF-alpha and INF-gama in the brain by quantitative real time RT-PCR 2 hours after LPS injection (N=5 animals per group). Results: We observed a statistically significant improvement in social interaction in animals treated with Guaraná extract. We observed no significant change in the IL-6 levels in the blood from animals that received Guarana extract, whereas plasma IL1-beta levels were significantly lower in the animals treated with Guaraná. Interestingly, Guaraná significantly suppressed the increase in brain IL-6 and TNF-alpha mRNA levels induced by LPS. Conclusions: Guaraná extract is effective to improve social behavior in animals treated with LPS which is associated with suppression of blood IL-1beta as well as IL-6 and TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the brain. Therefore, guarana extract may exhibit orally anti-inflammatory effects that might explain its anti-fatigue activity observed clinically in cancer patients.