Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Activity of Total Flavone of Cunninghamia lanceolata

Hai-Liang Xin,Lei Zhang,Xiao-Feng Zhai,Xu Zheng,Yu-Liang Wang,Zhuo Wang

doi:10.3390/molecules17088842

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of total flavone of branches and leaves of Cunninghamia lanceolata (TFC) to provide a scientific basis for its clinical use and resource development. TFC was evaluated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity in mice or rats using chemical and thermal models of nociception, including acetic acid-induced writhing test, hot plate latency test, formalin test and carrageenan induced paw oedema test. Results showed that TFC given orally can significantly attenuate acetic acid-induced writhing in mice in a dose-dependent manner. In the hot plate latency test, TFC showed common activity in prolonging duration time only at the highest dose (400 mg/kg). Each dose of TFC could not significantly inhibit the first phase but was active in the later phase of formalin-induced pain, whereas morphine showed notable activity in the two phases. In the carrageenan-induced paw oedema model, TFC could significantly and dose-dependently reduce the carrageenan-induced paw edema at the third and fifth hour, and decrease the content of PEG2 in paw edema tissue and that of COX-2 in blood serum. It may be concluded that TFC showed both anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, showing that it can be of importance in drug development, especially in the field of pain and inflammation.

Highlights

Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook., as an important native tree species that has been widely planted in mountainous areas in the tropics and subtropics in China for more than 1,000 years and has been used for a variety of wood products
In the carrageenan induced paw oedema test, TFC could significantly and dose-dependently reduce the carrageenan-induced paw edema at the third and fifth hour (Table 2), and it could decrease the content of PEG2 in paw edema tissue (Table 3) and that of COX-2 in blood serum (Table 4)
In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, the data showed the extract produced a dose-dependent inhibition of writhing on nociception

Summary

Introduction

Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook., as an important native tree species that has been widely planted in mountainous areas in the tropics and subtropics in China for more than 1,000 years and has been used for a variety of wood products. According to its traditional use, C. lanceolata is effective in pain-relief as a folklore medicine, there still has no comprehensive evaluation for the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of this plant. We reported that several biflavones were isolated from the EtOH extract of branches and leaves of C. lanceolata [4,5]. In this present study, we will focus on investigating total flavone of branches and leaves of C. lanceolata (TFC) with mice nociception models induced by the chemical and thermal stimuli so as to elucidate its anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity and provide a scientific basis for the clinical use and resource development of C. lanceolata

Results

Discussion

Conclusion