Avaliação da atividade antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória das macroalgas Caulerpa mexicana e Caulerpa sertularioides (CAULERPACEAE)

Abstract

The genus Caulerpa comprises species of marine macroalgae with potential biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications, however little research has been done about its biological activities. Owing to increasing interest in new drugs with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and the therapeutic potential of marine natural products, the aim of this work is evaluate antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of hexanic (HE), chloroformic (CE), ethila acetate (AE) and methanolic (ME) extracts obtained from macroalgae C. mexicana and C. sertularioides species aiming identify new analgesic and anti-inflammatory lead compounds, also contribute to scientific study of macroalgae originating of Brazilian northeast. In order to evaluate the potential antinociceptive, the following tests were carried out: acetic acid-induced writhing, hot plate and formalin test. To investigate an anti-inflammatory activity, carrageenan-induced peritonitis was applied. The tests were conducted by using doses of 100 mg/kg orally (p.o.). In the acetic acid-induced writhing test, all extracts of both species showed a significant inhibition (p < 0.001) with inhibition above 60%. In the hot plate test, only extracts from C. mexicana induced a statistically significant increase in the time that animals remained on the hot plate. Furthermore, in the formalin test all extracts from C. mexicana reduced the animal's licking time in both phases of the test, while only CE and AE from C. sertularioides were active in the neurogenic phase and in the inflammatory phase only HE, AE and ME showed activity. Moreover, in the test of carrageenan-induced peritonitis, the reduction of cell migration was seen in both macroalgae evaluated, in a way statistically significant (p < 0.001). Thus, the present results allow concluding that the HE, CE, AE and ME from macroalgae C. mexicana and C. sertularioides have anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties and may be used as prototypes of drugs, natural medicines or herbal remedies.