Antinociceptive and Anti-inflammatory Activities of the Ethanolic Extract, of Fractions and of Epicatechin Isolated from the Stem Bark of Ximenia americana L. (Oleacaceae)

Abstract

The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory actions of the ethanolic extract, fractions and epicatechin (XM-Catechin) isolated from the ethanoic extracts of bark of Ximenia americana L. were determined utilizing in vivo models such as acetic acid-induced writhing, the formalin test, hot plate test, zymosan-induced peritonitis and in vitro cyclooxygenase inhibition assay. The writhing test revealed inhibitory effects. The formalin test demonstrated an antinociceptive effect in both early and late phases by XM-catechin, while the chloroform fraction showed a lower antinociceptive effect at the early phase. The aqueous fraction and ethanolic extract caused significant inhibition at the late phase. Treatment of mice with XM-catechin or with the ethyl acetate fraction had no central antinociceptive effect in the hot plate test. Anti-inflammatory effects were determined for zymosan-induced peritoneal inflammation and the data indicated that XM-catechin, the hydromethanol fraction, the ethanol extract and the ethyl acetate fraction reduced the number of recruited cells. These results demonstrate that the extract, fractions and XM-Catechin produce antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory responses. According to the results obtained in the cyclooxygenase inhibition assays, the observed effects are related to inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2. The biological actions demonstrated in the present study support the ethnomedicinal use of this plant.