Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of the hydroalcoholic fractions from the leaves of Annona crassiflora Mart. in mice.

Abstract

Annona crassiflora Mart., popularly known as "Araticum", is a native tree of the Brazilian Cerrado used in folk medicine for treatment of pain and inflammatory diseases. We proposed to analyze analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of the filtrate (F1) and the precipitate (F2) of the hydroalcoholic fraction from the leaves of Annona crassiflora Mart. in mice. Swiss mice were submitted to formalin-induced nociception test and tail-flick reflex test, to assess antinociceptive properties, and to the rota-rod test, for motor performance analyses. To evaluate anti-inflammatory properties, F1 and F2 were orally administered 1h prior to the intrathoracic injection of carrageenan, zymosan, LPS, CXCL8, or vehicle in Balb/c mice and neutrophil infiltration was evaluated 4h after injection. F1 and F2 reduced the licking time in the second phase of formalin-induced nociception test, but only F2 showed a dose-dependent response. Neither F1 nor F2 reduced the latency time in the tail-flick reflex test. In addition, motor performance alteration was not observed in F1- or F2-treated mice. F2 treatment significantly inhibited the neutrophilia induced by carrageenan, LPS, or CXCL8, but not zymosan. The experimental data demonstrated that hydroalcoholic fractions of Annona crassiflora Mart. leaves have remarkable anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities.