Planta Med 2004; 70(4): 315-320
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-818942
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Intestinal Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Paepalantine, an Isocoumarin Isolated from the Capitula of Paepalanthus bromelioides, in the Trinitrobenzenesulphonic Acid Model of Rat Colitis

Luiz C. Di Stasi1 , Desireé Camuesco2 , Ana Nieto3 , Wagner Vilegas4 , Antonio Zarzuelo2 , 5 , Julio Galvez2 , 5
  • 1Department of Pharmacology, IB-UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
  • 2Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
  • 3Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary, University Complutense of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  • 4Institute of Chemistry, IQ-UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
  • 5Antonio Zarzuelo and Julio Galvez contributed equally to the supervision of this study
This study has been supported by grants from Instituto de Salud “Carlos III” (PI021732) and from Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (SAF20002-02592). Research has been performed under the auspices of CYTED (Subprogram X, Project X.10 PIGASTRIN). Luiz C. Di Stasi was a fellowship of CNPq (PDE-200757/01-6)-Brazil
Further Information

Publication History

Received: July 23, 2003

Accepted: January 25, 2004

Publication Date:
19 April 2004 (online)

Abstract

The preventative intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of paepalantine, an isocoumarin isolated from the capitula of Paepalanthus bromelioides, was tested in the trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) model of rat colitis. This was performed in two different experimental settings, i. e. when the colonic mucosa is intact or when the mucosa is in process of recovery after an initial insult. The results obtained revealed that the paepalantine pretreatment, at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg, significantly attenuated the colonic damage induced by TNBS in both situations, as it was evidenced both histologically and biochemically. This beneficial effect was associated with an improvement in the colonic oxidative status, since paepalantine prevented the glutathione depletion that occurred as a consequence of the colonic inflammation. In addition, the intestinal anti-inflammatory effect exerted by this isocoumarin was associated with an inhibition of colonic nitric oxide activity, which is upregulated as a consequence of the inflammatory process. In conclusion, the preventative effect exerted by paepalantine in the TNBS model of rat colitis is probably related with its antioxidant properties.

Abbreviations

AP:Alkaline phosphatase

IBD:Inflammatory bowel disease

GSH:Glutathione

MPO:Myeloperoxidase

NOS:Nitric oxide synthase

TNBS:Trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid

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Julio Galvez, Ph. D.

Department of Pharmacology

School of Pharmacy

University of Granada

18071 Granada

Spain

Phone: +34-958243889

Fax: +34-958248964

Email: jgalvez@ugr.es