Methanol extract of Cola nitida ameliorates inflammation and nociception in experimental animals

Exploring the possible mechanism involved in the anti-nociceptive effect of β-sitosterol: modulation of oxidative stress, nitric oxide and IL-6

Β-sitosterol is a phytosterol, documented to possess various activities including protection against inflammation, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. The current investigation was designed to explore the analgesic potential of β-sitosterol and the possible molecular mechanism involved in the observed effect. β-sitosterol was administered at varying doses of 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg before subjecting the mice to acetic acid and formalin challenges. The number of writhings in acetic acid and the number of flinchings and foot tappings were quantified in the formalin test. For mechanistic studies, substance P (cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) stimulator) and L-Nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (nitric oxide synthetases (NOS) inhibitor) and L-arginine (nitric oxide precursor) were administered before β-sitosterol treatment. β-sitosterol (10, 20, 40 mg/kg) treatment significantly reduced acetic acid-induced writhings and ameliorated the formalin-induced inflammatory phase dose-dependently. Whereas, 40 mg/kg dose of β-sitosterol abrogated the formalin-induced neurogenic phase. Substance-P abrogated the effect of β-sitosterol in both neurogenic and inflammatory phases. Whereas, L-arginine only abrogated the inflammatory phase. In biochemical analysis, β-sitosterol treatment reduced the level of interleukin-6 (IL-6), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and increased the level of reduced glutathione (GSH). Furthermore, L-arginine and substance-P abrogated the GSH increasing and TBARS lowering effect of β-sitosterol (40 mg/kg). Overall, the current study delineated that β-sitosterol may induce an anti-nociceptive effect via inhibiting the IL-6, oxidative stress, cyclo-oxygenase and nitric oxide.

Indigenous Nigeria medicinal herbal remedies: A potential source for therapeutic against rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating disease associated with locomotion impairment, and conventional therapeutic drugs are not optimal for managing RA. There is an avalanche of medications used for the management of RA. Still, studies have shown that they are associated with severe side effects, including hepatotoxicity, retinopathy, and cardiotoxicity disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), skin, blood, and infections. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is currently gaining attention as a novel panacea for managing debilitating diseases, such as RA. Nigerian folk herbal remedies are replete with a plethora of curative medicine, albeit unvalidated scientifically but with seemingly miraculous provenance. Studies of the identification of bioactive compounds present in these botanicals using advanced spectral analytical techniques have enhanced our understanding of the role of Nigerian herbal remedies in the treatment and management of RA. Interestingly, experimental studies abound that the bioactive compounds present in the extracts of plant botanicals protected animals from the development of RA in different experimental models and reduced the toxicity associated with conventional therapeutics. Validated mechanisms of RA amelioration in human and animal models include suppression of the expression of NF-κB, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IL-23, chemokines, TGF-β, RANKL, RANK, iNOS, arginase, COX-2, VEGFA, VEGFR, NFATC1, and TRAP in the synoviocytes. Decreased ROS, NO, MDA, carbonyl groups, and PGE₂ in the synovial fluid increased the expression of PPARα/γ; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory molecules also improve RA etiology. In this mini-review, we discuss the global burden of RA, the novel role of plant-based botanicals as potential therapeutics against signaling pathways in RA. Also addressed is the possible repurposing/reprofiling of plant botanicals to increase their therapeutic index among RA patients that patronize traditional healers in Nigeria with a global projection.

Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of synthesized novel benzoxazole derivatives

INTRODUCTION

Pain is an immunological response to any infection or inflammation and long term use of pain management therapy includes use of Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which is associated with occurrence of toxicity as well as gastrointestinal bleeding. Therefore, the investigation of new analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents remains a major challenge.

AIMS

The objective of this research study is to undergo the pharmacological evaluation of newly synthesized benzoxazole derivatives. These novel derivatives were evaluated for anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity using various in-vivo and ex-vivo methods.

METHODS

The study was carried out using swiss mice (adult male) weighing between 20gm to 30gm and were divided into groups containing (n=6) six animals in each group for treatment. The anti-nociceptive activity was performed by using 0.1ml of 0.6% v/v acetic acid as nociception inducer and evaluated by the diminished number of abdominal writhes. The anti-inflammatory activity was done using 0.1 ml of 2% w/v Carrageenan induced paw edema method was observed which was evaluated by calculating the percent maximum possible effect. Histopathological evaluation and cytotoxic activity of the compounds was carried out.

RESULTS

The results of this research study revealed that synthesized derivatives (a, b, c, d and e) showed promising anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect along significantly higher cytotoxic activity in MCF-7 cell lines.

CONCLUSION

It can be concluded that synthesized derivatives (a, b, c, d and e) have potential anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect along with cytotoxic activity and certain modification in structure may result in potent activity.