ATIVIDADE ANTI-INFLAMATÓRIA E ANTINOCICEPTIVA DO EXTRATO DA RAÍZ DE Lonchocarpus cultratus EM MODELO EXPERIMENTAL

Abstract

Pain and inflammation are essential physiological responses for tissue protection and repair; however, when exacerbated, they can lead to persistent nociceptor sensitization and significant functional impairment. In this context, the search for new pharmacological alternatives has intensified, highlighting the potential of medicinal plants as relevant sources of bioactive compounds capable of modulating pathways involved in pain and inflammation, thereby expanding therapeutic perspectives for the development of new analgesic and anti-inflammatory agents. Species of the Lonchocarpus genus, such as Lonchocarpus cultratus, contain metabolites with immunomodulatory potential, and extracts from their roots have previously demonstrated antiparasitic activity. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of the methanolic extract of L. cultratus in animal models. Thus, different experimental protocols were used: for the peritonitis induction test, macrophage collection, nitric oxide (NO) secretion quantification, and cytokine measurement, female BALB/c mice were used; and for the dose-response evaluation, LPS-induced model, complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) model, behavioral analyses (mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal hyperalgesia, and paw edema), and pain manifestation (formalin test and acetic acid test), male Swiss mice were used. Results were expressed as mean ± SEM and normality was assessed. The results obtained suggest that the extract exhibits anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects, reducing pro-inflammatory mediators and improving the response to mechanical hyperalgesia, with performance similar to indomethacin. The dose of 100 mg/kg showed the best balance between efficacy/cost/adverse effects. Although it is not possible to state that it induces a fully anti-inflammatory profile, the findings suggest a modulatory action on peripheral pain and inflammatory pathways. However, further investigations are necessary to confirm these findings and to elucidate its mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic applications.