ANALGESIC AND ANTIINFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF THE TANNIN FRACTION FROM MYRACRODRUON URUNDEUVA FR ALL

The present work showed a significant antinociceptive activity in the tannin fraction (TF) extracted from the bark of Myracrodruon urundeuva Fr. All. This inhibitory effect was demonstrated not only against abd ominal contractions but also in the formalin test in mice. In the firs t case, at doses of 0.1 and 1 mg/kg, i.p. the TF caused inhibitions of the order of 39.6 % and 80.8 %, respectively, and in the second one, inhibitions of 47.8 % and 77.2 % (phase I) and 59.2% and 100% (phase I I), after the administration of 5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p. The antinocicepti ve effect was partially reverted by naloxone. The TF presented also an antioedematogenic effect in rat paw oedema induced by carrageenan as well as dextran. In the carrageenan model, significant inhibitions wer e seen at 2 h (29.7% and 41.7%) and 3 h (40.5% and 44.2%), after admin istration of 5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p. In the dextran induced oedema, the T F (10 mg/kg, p.o.) caused inhibitions of 29.2%, 42.4% and 54.5% at 2 h , 3 h and 4 h, respectively. The TF (10 and 25 mg/kg, i.p.) significan tly inhibited the inflammatory events (vesical oedema and increased va scular permeability) which occur at the onset of the haemorrhagic cyst itis induced by cyclophosphamide. After subcutaneous or oral administr ation, the TF (5-50 mg/kg) also blocked neutrophil migration induced b y direct (fMLP) as well as indirect (carrageenan) stimuli. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.