Studies on the anti-oedematogenic properties of a fraction rich in lonchocarpin and derricin isolated from Lonchocarpus sericeus

Abstract

The acute anti-inflammatory properties of a fraction rich in the chalcones lonchocarpin and derricin, from the roots of Lonchocarpus sericeus (HFLS), were studied for the first time, using a paw oedema model induced in rats by various stimuli. Results showed that HFLS (100 and 200 mg kg⁻¹, i.p.) was ineffective in inhibiting dextran-induced paw oedema. The HFLS (200 mg kg⁻¹, p.o. or i.p.) also failed to inhibit the bradykinin-induced oedema. In the yeast-elicited oedema, the HFLS (200 mg kg⁻¹, i.p.) caused inhibitions ranging from 42 to 59% in the first to fourth hours. Orally administered HFLS (200 mg kg⁻¹) was active only in the second (27%) and fourth (32%) hours after yeast injection. It was observed that HFLS (50, 100 and 200 mg kg⁻¹, i.p.) showed inhibitions of 34, 57 and 74%, respectively, in the third hour for the carrageenan-induced oedema. The inhibition was smaller when the HFLS (100 and 200 mg kg⁻¹) was administered orally. The effect of the HFLS (20 mg kg⁻¹, i.p.) in the carrageenan-induced oedema was not modified by the L-NAME, but the association of pentoxifylline and HFLS increased its effect, suggesting an involvement of the PDE enzyme.

Keywords:

• derricin
• lonchocarpin
• Lonchocarpus sericeus
• paw oedema
• pentoxifylline
• phosphodiesterase

Acknowledgements

Grants from the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq) supported this work. The authors thank Maria Vilani R. Bastos for technical assistance.