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Inflammopharmacology
Published in: Inflammopharmacology 4/2020

01-08-2020 | Original Article

Anti-inflammatory and central and peripheral anti-nociceptive activities of α-asarone through the inhibition of TNF-α production, leukocyte recruitment and iNOS expression, and participation of the adenosinergic and opioidergic systems

Authors: Aline Aparecida Saldanha, Letícia Vieira, Flávio Martins de Oliveira, Débora de Oliveira Lopes, Rosy Iara Maciel de Azambuja Ribeiro, Ralph Gruppi Thomé, Hélio Batista dos Santos, Denise Brentan Silva, Carlos Alexandre Carollo, João Máximo de Siqueira, Adriana Cristina Soares

Published in: Inflammopharmacology | Issue 4/2020

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Abstract

Alpha-asarone has been found to possess many pharmacological activities, which can improve cognitive function and exert anti-oxidant, anxiolytic, anti-epileptic and protective effects against endothelial cell injury. The anti-inflammatory activity of α-asarone was evaluated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced paw oedema. Moreover, leukocyte migration, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were quantified in footpads. Formalin and LPS-induced thermal hyperalgesia models were generated using adenosinergic, opioidergic, serotonergic and muscarinic receptor antagonists. The effects on motor coordination were evaluated by means of the rota-rod test. Oral treatment (p.o.) with α-asarone (3 mg/kg) significantly inhibited paw oedema by 62.12 and 72.22%, 2 and 4 h post LPS injection, respectively. Alpha-asarone (3 mg/kg, p.o.) attenuated the inflammatory infiltrate 1, 3 and 6 h after LPS injection. Furthermore, α-asarone (3 mg/kg, p.o.) suppressed iNOS expression and TNF-α production, 6 and 1 h after inflammatory stimulus, respectively. Alpha-asarone (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited both phases of formalin-induced licking. In the hot-plate test, α-asarone (10 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) increased the latency to response 3 and 5 h post LPS stimulus. Caffeine and naloxone abolished the central anti-nociceptive effect of α-asarone (neurogenic phase of formalin and hot plate tests), suggesting the participation of the adenosinergic and opioidergic systems. Furthermore, naloxone reversed the peripheral activity of α-asarone (inflammatory phase of formalin test), indicating the possible involvement of the opioidergic pathway. In the rota-rod test, α-asarone did not change motor coordination. These findings suggest that α-asarone has anti-inflammatory, peripheral and central anti-nociceptive effects and could represent a promising agent for future research.
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Metadata
Title
Anti-inflammatory and central and peripheral anti-nociceptive activities of α-asarone through the inhibition of TNF-α production, leukocyte recruitment and iNOS expression, and participation of the adenosinergic and opioidergic systems
Authors
Aline Aparecida Saldanha
Letícia Vieira
Flávio Martins de Oliveira
Débora de Oliveira Lopes
Rosy Iara Maciel de Azambuja Ribeiro
Ralph Gruppi Thomé
Hélio Batista dos Santos
Denise Brentan Silva
Carlos Alexandre Carollo
João Máximo de Siqueira
Adriana Cristina Soares
Publication date
01-08-2020
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Inflammopharmacology / Issue 4/2020
Print ISSN: 0925-4692
Electronic ISSN: 1568-5608
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-019-00679-1

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