Alkylamides from Acmella oleracea: antinociceptive effect and molecular docking with cannabinoid and TRPV1 receptors

Abstract

Alkylamides are secondary metabolites in Acmella oleracea and display wide applications in treating several diseases. Since alkylamides can inhibit pain, this work aims to evaluate the antinociceptive profile of A. Oleracea methanolic extracts used in vivo and in silico assays. The extracts inhibited the neurogenic and inflammatory phases of the formalin test, ratifying the antinociceptive effect of alkylamides. Furthermore, the results from molecular docking demonstrated the interaction of A. oleracea alkylamides with the CB1/CB2 and TRPV1 receptors. Additionally, the crude methanolic extract of flowers did not induce potential side effects related to the classical cannabinoid tetrad: hypolocomotion and catalepsy. In conclusion, this work confirms the potential of the alkylamides of A. Oleracea as antinociceptive agents and, for the first time, correlates its effects with the endocannabinoid and vanilloid systems through in silico assays.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• jambu
• spilanthol
• alkamides
• cannabimimetics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Brazilian agency CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), FAPERJ (Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Rio de Janeiro), FIOCRUZ (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz). This work was supported by the Brazilian agency CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), FAPERJ (Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Rio de Janeiro) and FIOCRUZ (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz).