Fernanda Regina Hamann1, Adriana Maria Zago2, Mateus Fortes Rossato3, Veronica Rubert Beck4, Carlos Fernando Mello4, Thiele Faccim de Brum5, Leandro Machado de Carvalho6, Henrique Faccin6, Sara Marchesan Oliveira7, Maribel Antonello Rubin8. 1. Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Center of Natural and Exact Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. 2. Pharmacy Undergraduation Program, Centro Universitário Franciscano - UNIFRA, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. 3. Center of Innovation and Pre-clinical Pharmacology - CIEnP, Florianopolis, SC, Brazil. 4. Graduate Program in Pharmacology, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. 5. Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. 6. Graduate Program in Chemistry, Center of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. 7. Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Center of Natural and Exact Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: saramarchesan@hotmail.com. 8. Graduate Program in Biological Sciences: Toxicological Biochemistry, Center of Natural and Exact Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Graduate Program in Pharmacology, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: maribel.rubin@gmail.com.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Vitex megapotamica (Spreng) Moldenke has been used in South American folk medicine to treat inflammatory diseases. However, the effects of V. megapotamica on animal models of nociception and depression have not been evaluated. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated whether the crude leaf extract of V. megapotamica exhibits antinociceptive and antidepressant-like effects in a Freund's adjuvant-induced chronic inflammation and depression model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Chronic inflammation was induced in rats by the intraplantar administration of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA; 100μl). The effect of oral crude extract of V. megapotamica (VmE; 3-30mg/kg, p.o.) on nociception (thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical allodynia and arthritis score), inflammation (edema, myeloperoxidase activity), immobility (forced swimming test), locomotor activity (open field), gastrointestinal transit, hyperalgesia and naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal syndrome was evaluated. Naloxone (0.4mg/kg, i.p.) was used to investigate the involvement of opioid system in the currently described effects of VmE. RESULTS: Crude extract caused antinociceptive/antidepressant-like effects in the CFA-induced chronic inflammation model, which was prevented by naloxone. The VmE extract (10mg/kg, p.o.) did not alter the locomotor activity, gastrointestinal function and inflammatory parameters and did not cause hyperalgesia. CONCLUSION: V. megapotamica induces opioid-dependent antinociception and antidepressant-like effect, without anti-inflammatory activity. The results support the use of VmE as analgesic and antidepressant.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Vitex megapotamica (Spreng) Moldenke has been used in South American folk medicine to treat inflammatory diseases. However, the effects of V. megapotamica on animal models of nociception and depression have not been evaluated. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated whether the crude leaf extract of V. megapotamica exhibits antinociceptive and antidepressant-like effects in a Freund's adjuvant-induced chronic inflammation and depression model. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Chronic inflammation was induced in rats by the intraplantar administration of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA; 100μl). The effect of oral crude extract of V. megapotamica (VmE; 3-30mg/kg, p.o.) on nociception (thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical allodynia and arthritis score), inflammation (edema, myeloperoxidase activity), immobility (forced swimming test), locomotor activity (open field), gastrointestinal transit, hyperalgesia and naloxone-precipitated morphinewithdrawal syndrome was evaluated. Naloxone (0.4mg/kg, i.p.) was used to investigate the involvement of opioid system in the currently described effects of VmE. RESULTS: Crude extract caused antinociceptive/antidepressant-like effects in the CFA-induced chronic inflammation model, which was prevented by naloxone. The VmE extract (10mg/kg, p.o.) did not alter the locomotor activity, gastrointestinal function and inflammatory parameters and did not cause hyperalgesia. CONCLUSION:V. megapotamica induces opioid-dependent antinociception and antidepressant-like effect, without anti-inflammatory activity. The results support the use of VmE as analgesic and antidepressant.
Authors: Alberto Hernandez-Leon; Gabriel Fernando Moreno-Pérez; Martha Martínez-Gordillo; Eva Aguirre-Hernández; María Guadalupe Valle-Dorado; María Irene Díaz-Reval; María Eva González-Trujano; Francisco Pellicer Journal: Molecules Date: 2021-12-16 Impact factor: 4.411