Flavonoids and fractions from Saccharum officinarum L. juice: antinociceptive agents and molecular docking evaluations with µ-opioid receptor

Abstract

Opioid receptors mediate antinociceptive effects. Methanolic fractions from sugarcane varieties (MFSCf) were evaluated in classic nociception models. Interactions between bioactive compounds and the µ-opioid receptor (µOR) through docking analysis were also studied. Five methanolic fractions of sugarcane juice were obtained and analysed by LC-ESI-MS/MS. The fractions and standards of phenolic compounds were evaluated in a nociception model using the formalin test. All MFSCfs exhibited antinociceptive activity in the first phase of the formalin test. Docking analyses corroborates with the in vivo test results, suggesting that the phenolic substances are able to activate µOR. These results, for the first time, implicate phenolic constituents from sugarcane juice and other phenolic compounds in the activation of µOR. The antinociceptive activity of fractions from sugarcane juice suggests the potential pharmacological use of this species, widely cultivated in Brazil.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Sugarcane
• nociception
• opioid system
• fermentation
• tricin
• flavonoids

Acknowledgment

This work was financially supported by the Brazilian agency CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) and Faperj (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Rio de Janeiro).

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Brazilian agency CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) and Faperj (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Rio de Janeiro).