Abstract
Uncaria tomentosa is widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of numerous diseases, such as urinary tract disease. Hemorrhagic cystitis (HE) is an inflammatory condition of the bladder associated with the use of anticancer drugs such as cyclophosphamide (CYP). Sodium 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (Mesna) has been used to prevent the occurrence of HE, although this compound is not effective in established lesions. It has been demonstrated that the purinergic system is involved in several pathophysiological events. Among purinergic receptors, P2X7 deserves attention because it is involved in HE induced by CYP and, therefore, can be considered a therapeutic target. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential therapeutic effect of the quinovic acid glycosides purified fraction (QAPF) from U. tomentosa in the mouse model of CYP-induced HE. Pretreatment with QAPF not only had a protective effect on HE-induced urothelial damage (edema, hemorrhage and bladder wet weight) but was also able to control visceral pain, decrease IL-1β levels and down-regulates P2X7 receptors, most likely by inhibit the neutrophils migration to the bladder. This research clearly demonstrates the promising anti-inflammatory properties of QAPF, supporting its use as complementary therapy. QAPF represents a promising therapeutic option for this pathological condition.
Highlights
Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. belongs to the Rubiaceae family, commonly known as “uña de gato” or “cat's claw” due to its curved hooks [1]
Mice treated with quinovic acid glycosides purified fraction (QAPF) presented a similar profile regarding behavior nociceptive score (Fig 1B) and visceral sensitivity (Fig 2) when compared to CYP-mice, suggesting that QAPF was able to inhibit hypersensitivity in the pelvic area, which may lead to reduced abdominal discomfort and/or pelvic pain
In cases of chronic inflammation and urinary tract diseases, decoctions containing the bark of Uncaria tomentosa have been widely used in traditional medicine [1, 2, 3]
Summary
Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. belongs to the Rubiaceae family, commonly known as “uña de gato” or “cat's claw” due to its curved hooks [1]. Dietary supplements obtained from U. tomentosa bark have been widely used as adjunctive therapies for the treatment of inflammatory diseases [4, 5]. The wide range of activities conferred to U. tomentosa is mostly attributed to the presence of three main fractions of secondary metabolites: polyphenols, alkaloids and quinovic acid glycosides [3]. U. tomentosa decoctions have demonstrated an anti-inflammatory potential by preventing or modulating lung injury induced by ozone in vivo [6]. Hydroalcoholic extracts of U. tomentosa and quinovic acid glycoside were able to decrease carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice and rats, respectively [7, 8]. The mechanisms by which U. tomentosa exerts antiinflammatory activity remain unclear, its biological actions are likely related to the modulation of TNF synthesis, via NF-κB inhibition [2, 9, 10, 11]. No study has evaluated the antiinflammatory effect of U. tomentosa against hemorrhagic cystitis (HE)
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