Efeitos da Lectina da Alga Marinha Vermelha Solieria filiformis (Kützing) P.W. Gabrielson na Nocicepção e Inflamação em Animais

Abstract

The seaweeds are a source of bioactive compounds, which gained importance in pharmacological applications. Among these, there are the lectins, which are (glyco)proteins that bind to specific mono or oligosaccharides. The aim of this study was to isolate the lectin from the red seaweed Solieria filifmoris (LSf), investigate its properties in acute nociception and inflammation, and their possible signs of toxicity in animals. Initially, the LSf was purified by extraction with Tris-HCl buffer 25 mM (pH 7,5), precipitation with ammonium sulfate (70%) and chromatographies in DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-100 columns. In the evaluation of the biological activities, animals groups (n=6) were submitted to pretreatment with LSf (1, 3 or 9 mg/kg; i.v.), 30 min before of the nociceptive or inflammatory stimulus. The antinociceptive activity was evaluated in male mice Swiss using the abdominal writhing test induced by acetic acid 0,8%, the formalin test to 2% and the hot plate test. Morphine and indomethacin (5 mg/kg; s.c.) were used as controls. The anti-inflamatory activity in male rats Wistar was assayed through of the peritonitis induced by carrageenan - Cg (700 µg/cav) and of the paw edemas Cg- (700 µg/paw), dextran- (500 µg/paw) or LSf-induced (9 mg/kg) models. Dexamethasone (1 mg/kg; s.c.) was used as control. The LSf edematogenic action (1, 3 or 9 mg/kg) was evaluated by the application of this lectin in the rat paws and by the pharmacological modulation of the edema formed. The toxicity study of LSf (9 mg/kg; i.v.) was carried out through of its application in mice (7 days) and of the analysis of the physical, biochemical and histological parameters. LSf significantly reduced the number of abdominal writhing and the paw licking time in the second phase of formalin test, but didn’t prolong the reaction time in hot plate test. The LSf also inhibited the cell migration in peritonitis induced by Cg and the paw edemas induced by Cg, dextran and LSf. Moreover, LSf showed edematogenic activity, which was inhibited by indomethacin and dexamethasone. Additionally, the LSf administration for 7 days presented no signs of systemic damages, except for the reduced level of alkaline phosphatase and splenomegaly. Concluding, the LSf has antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory (i.v.) and edematogenic (i.pl.) properties and could represent a potential therapeutic agent and a possible tool for the inflammation study.