Evaluation of the association of fruit extracts of Pterodon pubescens Benth., Arrabidaea chica Verlot and Bixa orellana in healing, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities

• Grant number: 19/18410-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2019
• End date: June 30, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Medicines Analysis and Control
• Principal Investigator: Mary Ann Foglio
• Grantee: Kaio Eduardo Buglio
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/21801-2 - Predictors of severity and new treatments for bone marrow neoplasias, AP.TEM

Abstract

Inflammation is a complex immune response related to tissue and / or cellular damage caused by chemical, physical, immunological or microbial stimuli and aims to lead to resolution of tissue damage. Inflammation is usually regulated by a cascade of molecular interactions and biochemical reactions responsible for propagating and maturing the inflammatory response and involves the local vascular system, the immune system and various cell types. Pain appears due to direct effects of mediators resulting from both initial damage and inflammatory response. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) represent a group of more than 20 drugs that enjoy wide clinical application and have compounds with heterogeneous chemical structures that demonstrate efficacy for the treatment of pain and inflammation. Indiscriminate and continuous use of NSAIDs can lead to adverse effects including gastrointestinal disorders, gastric ulcers, renal toxicity, cardiovascular and central nervous system problems. The discovery and development of new drugs remains a challenge and despite the major advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in pain and inflammation, current therapies are usually insufficient because they have severe side effects or limited efficacy. The use of phytocomplexes may be an alternative for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. The species Arrabidaea chica verlot, Bixa orellena and Pterodon pubescens Benth. are popularly used in the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. The discovery and development of new drugs continues to be a challenge, with high costs in research and development. Despite the major advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the treatment of cancer, pain and inflammation, current therapies are usually insufficient because they have severe side effects or limited efficacy. For this reason, the identification of the mechanisms of action, the search for new molecules that are effective allied with less adverse effects, becomes extremely necessary for the possible applications. Our research group has been working in this area since 1987.Among the species studied the Pterodon pubescens Benth has demonstrated excellent potential in the control of cell proliferation, nociception and inflammation. While Arrabidaea chica Verlot has fibroblast proliferation capacity that allowed the development of product for the recovery of patients in cancer treatment who develop mucositis. Bixa orellana is of great importance in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, due to the production of pigments, commonly used for coloring medicines and other pharmaceutical products identified a total of 73 being geranilgeraniol one of the major compounds. Studies have shown that geranilgeraniol is responsible for partially reversing the toxic effects of zoledronic acid in human gingival fibroblasts, suggesting that the regulation of these genes is performed via the mevalonate pathway, and can therefore be used as a therapeutic strategy for OMIB, osteonecrosis of the jaws induced by bisphosphonates. In collaboration with Dr. Paulo Carvalho from ITAL, who developed a patent for the production of Bixella orellana dye and other fractions, we will study this input alone and in associations with Pterodon pubescens Benth and Arrabidaea chica verlot evaluating the response of the association of these with the fractions in the experimental models proposed. In this way, the results obtained will allow the development of new medicines, from ecologically sustainable sources.