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Planta Med 2014; 80(13): 1072-1078
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1382997
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Curine, an Alkaloid Isolated from Chondrodendron platyphyllum Inhibits Prostaglandin E2 in Experimental Models of Inflammation and Pain

Fagner Carvalho Leite
1   Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Patologia, UFPB, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
,
Jaime Ribeiro-Filho
1   Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Patologia, UFPB, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
2   Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
,
Hermann Ferreira Costa
1   Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Patologia, UFPB, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
,
Paula Regina Rodrigues Salgado
3   Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Patologia, UFPB, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
,
Andrea Surrage Calheiros
2   Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
,
Alan Brito Carneiro
2   Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
,
Reinaldo Nobrega de Almeida
3   Laboratório de Psicofarmacologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Patologia, UFPB, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
,
Celidarque da Silva Dias
4   Laboratório de Fitoquímica, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, UFPB, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
,
Patricia T. Bozza
2   Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
,
Marcia Regina Piuvezam
1   Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Departamento de Fisiologia e Patologia, UFPB, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 21 November 2013
revised 11 June 2014

accepted 17 July 2014

Publication Date:
08 September 2014 (online)

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Abstract

Curine is a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid that is isolated from Chondrodendron platyphyllum, a plant that is used to treat malaria, inflammation, and pain. Recent reports have demonstrated the antiallergic effects of curine at nontoxic doses. However, its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties remain to be elucidated. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of curine in mice. We analyzed the effects of an oral treatment with curine in the formation of paw edema, vascular permeability, abdominal contortion, licking behavior, and hyperalgesia using different inflammatory stimuli. Curine significantly inhibited the formation of paw edema by decreasing vascular permeability, inhibited the acetic acid-induced writhing response, inhibited the licking behavior during inflammation but not during the neurogenic phase of the formalin test, and inhibited carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia. Finally, curine inhibited prostaglandin E2 production in vitro without affecting cyclooxygenase-2 expression. The effects of curine treatment were similar to the effects of indomethacin, but were different from the effects of morphine treatment, suggesting that the analgesic effects of curine do not result from the direct inhibition of neuronal activation but instead depend on anti-inflammatory mechanisms that, at least in part, result from the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 production. In conclusion, curine presents anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects at nontoxic doses and has the potential for use in anti-inflammatory drug development.

Key words

pain - inflammation - PGE2 - curine - Chondrodendron platyphyllum - Menispermaceae

Supporting Information

 

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