Abstract
Macrosiphonia velame (Apocynaceae), popularly known as "velame-branco", is mainly used for treating inflammatory conditions. The antiinflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic effects of the hydroethanolic extract of the xylopodium from M. velame (HEMv) were evaluated using several animal models. HEMv showed low acute oral toxicity with LD50 of 4.176 ± 218.5 mg/kg in mice. In tests of carrageenan and dextran-induced paw edema and carrageenan-induced pleurisy in rats, and croton oil-induced cutaneous dermatitis in mice, HEMv presented systemic and topical antiinflammatory activities. In experiments of nociception induced by acetic acid, formalin and capsaicin in mice, the HEMv evidenced an antinociceptive effect, being active against both inflammatory and neurogenic pain. Additionally, the HEMv prevented brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia in rats. It is likely that the pharmacologic mechanism of HEMv may involve the inhibition of different mediators of the inflammatory response, such as histamine, serotonin, prostaglandins and leukotrienes. A preliminary phytochemical study was also undertaken on HEMv, which revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, pentacyclic triterpenoids, saponins, coumarins, catechins, tannins, and alkaloids. Taken together, these results suggest that M. velame extract has antiinflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic properties and further validate the traditional use of this plant in inflammatory conditions.
Highlights
Water-ethanol 75% (1:3 w/v) was added to the powder, which was macerated for 7 days, concentrated in a rotary evaporator under reduced pressure (600 mmHg), at a temperature of 50oC, with the residual solvent being eliminated in an oven at 40o C, obtaining 60.1 g of hydroethanolic extract 75% from Macrosiphonia velame (HEMv)
The preliminary phytochemical study carried out with HEMv showed the presence of alkaloids, catechins, phenolic compounds, coumarins, flavonoids, flavonones, saponins, condensed tannins and pentacyclic triterpenoids
The carrageenan-induced paw edema model has frequently been used to evaluate the antiedematogenic effect of most anti-inflammatory drugs in routine clinical use (Carvalho et al, 1999)
Summary
Arg., popularly known as “velame-branco”, “velame do campo” or “losna do campo”, is one of the most used plants as a medicinal resource by rural populations of central Brazil plateau (Guarim-Neto, Morais, 2003). In interviews carried out with 15 herbal sellers from Goiania-Goias State, Brazil, M. velame was cited by 90% of respondents as an effective anti-inflammatory, depurative and antisyphilitic agent (Santos et al, 2004). M. velame occurs naturally in soils with gravel cover in areas of Brazilian cerrado. The collection of this plant in an indiscriminate manner coupled with habitat loss due to intensive agriculture, have made this plant rare in the region. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antipyretic effects of hydroethanolic extract of the xylopodium of M. velame using experimental animal models
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