Indigo, isatin and Lupeol on inflammation: modulation of cytokines, chemokines, and nuclear factor of transcription

• Grant number: 10/16965-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2011
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Ethnopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Alba Regina Monteiro Souza Brito
• Grantee: Alba Regina Monteiro Souza Brito
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Anderson Luiz Ferreira

Abstract

Inflammation is an adaptive response initiated by noxious stimulus, infections and tissue wound. A variety of mediators coordinate the inflammatory process; the use of non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which mainly inhibit prostaglandin (PG) synthesis, the main enzyme involved in the inflammatory process; furthermore, they suppress pain, edema, and also reduce the blood flow within the inflamed area, although it has no effect on the development of the disease itself. Due to its PG synthesis inhibition, these drugs cause side effects as: gastric ulcer, thrombocytic events. In this context, the pursuit of an alternative drug for the treatment of inflammation remains. Medicinal plants are a promising alternative, since the plant biodiversity is a vast source of bioactive molecules, including the alkaloids and terpenes which are well known for their anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential effects. The objective of this work is to assess the potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect and also the respective mechanisms of action of indigo and isatine, both obtained from Indigofera truxillensis (Leguminosae) and that of the triterpene lupeol, obtained from Vernonia polyanthes. (AU)