Topical application of the hexane fraction of Lacistema pubescens reduces skin inflammation and cytokine production in animal model.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to investigate the acute topical anti-inflammatory effect of the hexane fraction (HLP) of Lacistema pubescens in mice.


METHODS
Ear oedema models induced by croton oil, arachidonic acid, phenol, histamine, ethyl phenyl propiolate and capsaicin. Histopathological analyses of ear tissue samples sensitized with croton oil were performed. Myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), the pro-inflammatory cytokine-inhibitory effect and dermatoxicity were also evaluated.


KEY FINDINGS
HLP (1, 0.5 and 0.1 mg/ear) resulted in a substantial reduction in skin thickness or tissue weight on all models tested, except for capsaicin-induced ear oedema, similar to dexamethasone (0.1 mg/ear) and/or indomethacin (0.5 mg/ear). Histopathological analyses and neutrophil-mediated MPO activity confirmed the topical anti-inflammatory effect of HLP. In addition, HLP reduced IL-1β, IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α cytokine levels. Sitosterol-rich fraction (SRF), obtained from HLP fractionation, reduced ear oedema on croton oil and phenol models at the same dose of dexamethasone (0.1 mg/ear). No dermotoxicity was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The mechanism of action of HLP was associated with the inhibition of several pro-inflammatory mediators, including cytokines, arachidonic acid metabolites and histamine, which suggested a glucocorticoid-like effect, reinforced by the presence of the steroid sitosterol. This is the first report on anti-inflammatory activity of L. pubescens leaves.
['da Silva|Josiane Mello|JM|', 'Conegundes|Jéssica Leiras Mota|JL|', 'Mendes|Renata de Freitas|Rde F|', 'Pinto|Nícolas de Castro Campos|Nde C|', 'Gualberto|Ana Cristina Moura|AC|', 'Ribeiro|Antônia|A|', 'Gameiro|Jacy|J|', 'de Aguiar|Jair Adriano Kopke|JA|', 'Castañon|Maria Christina Marques Nogueira|MC|', 'Scio|Elita|E|']
D000287:Administration, Topical D000818:Animals D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents D016207:Cytokines D003907:Dexamethasone D004195:Disease Models, Animal D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug D004487:Edema D007249:Inflammation D018836:Inflammation Mediators D019684:Magnoliopsida D008297:Male D051379:Mice D010936:Plant Extracts D018515:Plant Leaves D051381:Rats D017208:Rats, Wistar
Lacistema pubescens skin inflammation cytokine myeloperoxidase dermatoxicity