Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator activities of Brazilian medicinal plants containing coumarin: a comparative study

• Published in: Journal of ethnopharmacology Vol. 70; no. 2; pp. 151 - 159
• Main Authors: Leal, L.K.A.M, Ferreira, A.A.G, Bezerra, G.A, Matos, F.J.A, Viana, G.S.B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.05.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analgesics, Non-Narcotic - pharmacology; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - pharmacology; Antiinflammatory activity; Antinociception; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Bronchodilation; Bronchodilator Agents - pharmacology; Coumarins - pharmacology; Eclipta alba; Female; General pharmacology; Guinea Pigs; Hybanthus ipecacuanha; In Vitro Techniques; Justicia pectoralis; Male; Medical sciences; Mice; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Plants, Medicinal; Pterodon polygaliflorus; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Torresea cearensis; South America; Brazil; America; Bronchodilation; Justicia pectoralis; Antiinflammatory activity; Hybanthus ipecacuanha; Eclipta alba; Antinociception; Pterodon polygaliflorus; Torresea cearensis; Rat; Coumarine derivatives; Violaceae; Extract; Compositae; Medicinal plant; Acanthaceae; Guinea pig; Folk medicine; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Phytotherapy; Edema; Pharmacognosy; Bronchodilator; Rodentia; Antiinflammatory agent; Oral administration; Inflammation; In vitro; Biological activity; In vivo; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Analgesic; Leguminosae; Mouse; Animal; Plant origin; Spermatophyta; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0378-8741; 1872-7573
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-8741(99)00165-8

This work studied the antinociceptive, antiinflammatory and bronchodilator activities of hydroalcoholic extracts (HAEs) from Torresea cearensis, Justicia pectoralis, Eclipta alba, Pterodon polygaliflorus and Hybanthus ipecacuanha. These plants are largely used in north-eastern Brazil for respiratory tract diseases, and have in common coumarin, one of their active principles. The antinociceptive effects of all HAEs in mice were similar, and the inhibition of the acetic acid-induced writhing was 35–55% with 200 mg/kg, p.o. At this dose, the effect ranged from 41–77% with the formalin test in mice, and all the HAEs inhibited preferentially the 2nd phase of the response. In one case ( P. polygaliflorus), the effect was partially reversed by naloxone. Except for the HAE from T. cearensis (200 mg/kg, p.o.) which inhibited carrageenan-induced edema by 47%, the others presented no effect orally but showed a significant activity intraperitoneally. On the other hand, T. cearensis was not active in the dextran model, while inhibitions with the other ones were lower than 30%. The bronchodilator activities of J. pectoralis and P. polygaliflorus HAEs as determined in isolated guinea-pig trachea were the most active.