Anti-inflammatory and Antinociceptive Effects of the Aqueous Extract of the Bark of Chrysobalanus icaco Linnaeus

Aims: This paper describes the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of the aqueous extract of Chrysobalanus icaco.
Study Design: Study the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity of the aqueous extract of C. icaco using in vivo models.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Antibiotics and Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, between March 2010 and March 2012.
Methodology: The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by carrageenan/dextran-induced paw edema, vascular permeability induced by acetic acid and subcutaneous air pouch models, with measurements of cell migration, nitric oxide and cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. Acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, formalin and hot plate tests were performed to investigate the antinociceptive effects.
Results: The aqueous extract of C. icaco (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) reduced dextran/carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, the vascular permeability, cell migration, and nitric oxide concentration. However, it did not affect the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 produced in the pouch. The aqueous extract also demonstrated antinociceptive activity by acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing and formalin test, and was able to prolong the reaction time in the hot plate model in the first hour with activity similar to morphine (2.5 mg/kg, s.c.). There was no acute toxicity in mice after oral administration of the aqueous extract at doses of 2 g/kg.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that the aqueous extract of C. icaco demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity through the reduction of vascular permeability, inhibition of cellular migration and nitric oxide production and that the antinociceptive activity seems to be mediated by central mechanisms.