Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of myricetin 3-O-β-galactoside isolated from Davilla elliptica: involvement of the nitrergic system

We aimed to study the antinociceptive effects of myricetin 3-O-β-galactoside (Mi), a substance isolated from the hydroalcoholic extract of Davilla elliptica. This study examined male Swiss mice, inducible nitric oxide synthase C57B16/J knockout mice (iNOS^−/−), and their corresponding wild type (WT). Formalin and tail-flick tests were used to evaluate the nociceptive threshold, and the carrageenan-induced paw edema test was used as a model for inflammation. The following drugs were administered to investigate the involvement of the nitrergic and opioidergic systems: l-NAME, a nonspecific nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor; l-arginine (l-Arg), a precursor for the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO); d-arginine (d-Arg), an inactive isomer for the synthesis of NO; aminoguanidine (Am), an inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor; and naloxone, a nonselective antagonist of opioid receptors. The results showed that oral pretreatment with Mi caused a dose-dependent inhibition of the inflammatory phase of the formalin test and did not alter motor performance. Intraperitoneal injection of l-NAME caused a reduction in the licking time during the second phase of the formalin test. The administration of l-Arg (but not d-Arg) reversed the antinociceptive effect of l-NAME. Furthermore, pre-administration of aminoguanidine potentiated the antinociceptive effect. Mi did not cause an antinociceptive effect in iNOS knockouts and led to a reduction in the nitrite concentration in the paws of mice. Carrageenan-induced paw edema was reduced in Swiss mice and WT mice when compared to iNOS^−/− mice. Pre-administration of naloxone (NLX) did not reverse the antinociceptive effect of Mi, excluding the opioidergic system as a mediator of the antinociceptive effect. Thus, the results suggest that the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of myricetin 3-O-β-galactoside are related to peripheral inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis, mainly iNOS.