Tarcisio Vieira de Brito

Anti-inflammatory effect of a sulphated polysaccharide fraction extracted from the red algae Hypnea musciformis via the suppression of neutrophil migration by the nitric oxide signalling pathway.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti‐inflammatory effect of a sulphated polysaccharide fraction (PLS) extracted from the alga Hypnea musciformis and investigate the possible involvement of the nitric oxide (NO) pathway in this effect.

Polysaccharide isolated from Agardhiella ramosissima: chemical structure and anti-inflammation activity.

The sulfated polysaccharide (PLS) fraction of Agardhiella ramosissima was characterized by microanalysis, infrared spectroscopy, NMR and gas-liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry. The main constituent of PLS was the ι carrageenan. The monosaccharide composition of the PLS showed galactose, 3,6-anhydrogalactose and 6-O-methylgalactose. The PLS (30 mg kg(-1)) significantly reduced the paw oedema induced by carrageenan, dextran, histamine and serotonin and also was able to significantly inhibit leucocyte migration into the peritoneal cavity and decrease the concentration of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in paw tissue. In the antinociceptive tests, the pre-treatment with PLS reduced the number of writhes, the licking time but did not increase the latency time of response. This study demonstrates for the first time the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of PLS from A. ramosissima. Thus, we concluded that PLS could be a new natural tool in pain and acute inflammatory conditions.

Sulfated polysaccharide from the marine algae Hypnea musciformis inhibits TNBS-induced intestinal damage in rats

Sulfated polysaccharides extracted from seaweed have important pharmacological properties. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize the sulfated polysaccharide (PLS) from the algae Hypnea musciformis and evaluate its protective effect in colitis induced by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid in rats. The sulfated polysaccharide possess a high molecular mass (1.24×10(5)gmol(-1)) and is composed of a κ-carrageenan, as depicted by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopic data. PLS was administered orally (10, 30, and 60mg/kg, p.o.) for three days, starting before TNBS (trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid) instillation (day 1). The rats were killed on day three, the portion of distal colon (5cm) was excised and evaluated macroscopic scores and wet weight. Then, samples of the intestinal were used for histological evaluation and quantification of glutathione, malonyldialdehyde acid, myeloperoxidase, nitrate/nitrite and cytokines. Our results demonstrate that PLS reduced the colitis and all analyzed biochemical parameters. Thus, we concluded that the PLS extracted from the marine algae H. musciformis reduced the colitis in animal model and may have an important promising application in the inflammatory bowel diseases.

Sulfated-polysaccharide fraction extracted from red algae Gracilaria birdiae ameliorates trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced colitis in rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of the sulfated‐polysaccharide (PLS) fraction extracted from the seaweed Gracilaria birdiae in rats with trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)‐induced colitis.

Polysaccharide fraction isolated from Passiflora edulis inhibits the inflammatory response and the oxidative stress in mice

The aim of the study was to investigate the anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant and antinociceptive actions of PFPe, a polysaccharide fraction isolated from the dried fruit of the Passiflora edulis.

Polysaccharides isolated from Digenea simplex inhibit inflammatory and nociceptive responses.

Polysaccharides (PLS) have notably diverse pharmacological properties. In the present study, we investigated the previously unexplored anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the PLS fraction isolated from the marine red alga Digenea simplex. We found that the PLS fraction reduced carrageenan-induced edema in a dose-dependent manner, and inhibited inflammation induced by dextran, histamine, serotonin, and bradykinin. The fraction also inhibited neutrophil migration into both mouse paw and peritoneal cavity. This effect was accompanied by decreases in IL1-β and TNF-α levels in the peritoneal fluid. Pre-treatment of mice with PLS (60 mg/kg) significantly reduced acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing. This same dose of PLS also reduced total licking time in both phases of a formalin test, and increased latency in a hot plate test. Therefore, we conclude that PLS extracted from D. simplex possess anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities and can be useful as therapeutic agents against inflammatory diseases.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of methanol extract and its fractions from the brown seaweed Spatoglossum schroederi

In the present study, the brown seaweed Spatoglossum schroederi was submitted to extraction procedures in order to obtain methanol (MET) extract and its hexane (HEX) and chloroform (CLR) fractions. All samples were evaluated for total phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The HEX fraction was the richest in total phenolic content, while CLR in total flavonoid content. MET, HEX, and CLR exhibited potent dose-dependent antioxidant activity by the total antioxidant capacity (TOAC) and reducing power methods and linear regression evidenced that the antioxidant activity of S. schroederi is due mainly to the flavonoid content. Following, MET extract and its fractions were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity. Algae samples inhibited significantly the paw edema induced by carrageenan or dextran, myeloperoxidase activity, neutrophil migration induced by carrageenan, IL-1β concentration, and increase on IL-10 level in the peritoneal fluid of animals. Our results suggest that anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory present in the brown seaweed S. schroederi may be related to the presence of flavonoids.

Lectin obtained from the red seaweed Bryothamnion triquetrum : Secondary structure and anti-inflammatory activity in mice

Seaweeds are sources of biomolecules with biological activities and pharmacological potential - for example, lectins, a group of proteins that can bind reversibly to carbohydrates or compounds containing them. The aim of this study was to elucidate the structural properties of a lectin extracted from the red seaweed Bryothamnion triquetrum (BtL) and to investigate its anti-inflammatory activity in mice. The lectin was purified by precipitation with ammonium sulfate and ion-exchange chromatography. Its secondary structure and tryptophan (Trp) microenvironment were analyzed by circular dichroism spectroscopy and steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by means of paw edema induced by carrageenan or dextran, myeloperoxidase activity in paw tissue, and by measurement of leukocyte and neutrophil migration and cytokine quantification in a peritonitis model. The secondary structure of BtL is mostly composed of β-strands and unordered conformation, and it is quite resistant to extremes of pH and temperature, preserving the exposure of Trp residues under these conditions. In an assessment of biological activities, groups of mice were subjected to pretreatment with BtL before the inflammatory stimulus. BtL had anti-inflammatory effects in the models tested, and hence may be considered a molecule with potential to be used in the pharmaceutical industry.

The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity of albumins from Crotalaria retusa seeds

Seeds of Crotalaria retusa L. are used in popular medicine because of their pharmacological properties. The albumin fraction obtained from its seeds contains lectin, a protein known to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, albumins extracted from C. retusa were investigated for their anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. The intraperitoneal administration of different doses of albumins (5, 10 or 20mg/kg) significantly inhibited the mice paw edema induced by carrageenan (maximum inhibition rate of 80.9% at four hours, 20mg/kg), and this event was followed by diminishing paw myeloperoxidase measurements. Albumins (20mg/kg) also inhibited neutrophil migration into the peritoneal cavity induced by carrageenan. However, no effect was observed in the dextran-induced paw edema and abdominal contortions induced by acetic acid. Moreover, albumins (20mg/kg) significantly reduced the second (inflammatory) phase of the licking time induced by formalin. The detection of heammaglutinating activity against human erythrocytes in albumins evidences the presence of lectin in seeds of C. retusa. Our data showed that seeds of C. retusa had anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties and such activities are probably due to the inhibitory effect on neutrophil migration of lectin present in albumins.

Chemical structure and anti-inflammatory effect of polysaccharide extracted from Morinda citrifolia Linn (Noni)

Polysaccharides extracted from plants are very promising molecules in the field of pharmacotherapy. Knowing this, the aim of this study was to extract, characterize and evaluate the action of the polysaccharide of Morinda citrifolia Linn (Noni-PLS) in biological models of inflammatory processes. The characterization tests shown that sample refers to a heteropolysaccharide composed mainly of homogalacturonan and rhamnogalacturonan. This polysaccharide at dose of 10 mg/kg, when tested in our models of inflammation, showed significant activity in reducing carrageenan-induced paw oedema as well as all mediators edemas. This polysaccharide was able to inhibit the migration of leukocytes to the site of inflammation, and still reduced inflammatory nociception tests. This results, allows us to conclude that the polysaccharide extracted from Morinda citrifolia linn has anti-inflammatory potential since it reversed inflammatory parameters such as edema, leukocyte migration and nociception.