Polyphenols from <i>Dichrostachys cinerea</i> Fruits Anti-Inflammatory, Analgesic, and Antioxidant Capacity in Freund’s Adjuvant-Induced Arthritic Rat Model
Gisèle Atsang à Kiki,
Raluca Maria Pop,
Octavia Sabin,
Ioana Corina Bocsan,
Veronica Sanda Chedea,
Sonia Ancuța Socaci,
Alina Elena Pârvu,
Egre Finsia,
Takvou Francis,
Zramah Mathieu,
Anca Dana Buzoianu
Affiliations
Gisèle Atsang à Kiki
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Maroua, Maroua P.O. Box 814, Cameroon
Raluca Maria Pop
Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Octavia Sabin
Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Ioana Corina Bocsan
Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Veronica Sanda Chedea
Research Station for Viticulture and Enology Blaj (SCDVV Blaj), 515400 Blaj, Romania
Sonia Ancuța Socaci
Department of Food Science, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Alina Elena Pârvu
Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Egre Finsia
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Maroua, Maroua P.O. Box 814, Cameroon
Takvou Francis
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Maroua, Maroua P.O. Box 814, Cameroon
Zramah Mathieu
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Maroua, Maroua P.O. Box 814, Cameroon
Anca Dana Buzoianu
Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wigth & Arn. (DC) is widely used in traditional medicine against several inflammatory diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis, because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed to characterize the polyphenol-rich DC fruit extracts and investigate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects in a rat inflammation model induced by complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA). Water and ethanolic extracts were characterized using liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The polyphenol-rich extracts were administered in three different concentrations for 30 days. Pain threshold, thermal hyperalgesia, edema, and serum biomarkers specific to inflammatory processes or oxidative stress were evaluated. Both extracts were rich in polyphenolic compounds, mainly flavan-3-ols, proanthocyanidins, and flavone glycosides, which had important in vitro antioxidant capacity. DC fruit extracts administration had the maximum antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects after one day since the CFA injection and showed promising results for long-term use as well. The measurement of pro-inflammatory cytokines, cortisol, and oxidative stress parameters showed that DC extracts significantly reduced these parameters, being dose and extract-type dependent. These results showed potential anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidative properties and revealed the necessity of using a standardized polyphenolic DC extract to avoid result variability.
