Toxicological analysis and antihyperalgesic, antidepressant, and anti-inflammatory effects of Campomanesia adamantium fruit barks

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluates the anti-inflammatory, antihyperalgesic, and antidepressive potential of the hydroalcoholic extract of Campomanesia adamantium fruit barks (CAE) on rodents and determines the safety of this plant.

Methods: The acute toxicity of CAE was evaluated by oral administration to female rats as single doses of 0, 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg body weight. General behavior and toxic symptoms were observed for 14 days. In the subacute toxicity test, male and female rats received 125 or 250 mg/kg body weight of CAE for 28 days. The oral anti-inflammatory activity of CAE was evaluated in carrageenan-induced pleurisy in male mice. The effect of treatment with CAE (100 mg/kg) for 15 days was evaluated in mechanical hyperalgesia (electronic von Frey), depressive behavior (forced swimming test), and cold hypersensitivity in spared nerve injury (SNI) model in rats.

Results: No clinical signs of toxicity were observed in animals from the experimental groups during acute and subacute exposure to CAE. At pleurisy test, the oral administration of CAE significantly inhibited leukocyte migration and protein leakage at all doses tested when compared to control. Oral administration of CAE for 3–15 days significantly inhibited SNI-induced mechanical hyperalgesia and increased immobility in the forced swim test. Finally, on the 15th day, oral treatment with CAE prevented the increase in sensitivity to a cold stimulus induced by SNI.

Discussion: The present study shows that C. adamantium extract has anti-inflammatory, antihyperalgesic, and antidepressive properties in rodents without causing toxicity.

Keywords:

• Campomanesia adamantium fruit bark
• Inflammation
• Toxicity
• Hyperalgesia
• Depression

Acknowledgments

The authors thank CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) and FUNDECT (Foundation to Support the Development of Education, Science and Technology of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul) for the financial assistance.

Disclaimer statements

Contributors

I attest that each author has participated sufficiently in the intellectual content, analyses of data, and writing of the manuscript to take public responsibility for it.

Funding

None.

Conflicts of interest

None.

Ethics approval

All tests were approved by the Ethics Committee for Animal Research of the Federal University of Grande Dourados (Protocol 002/2013).