Efficacy of <i>Posidonia oceanica</i> Extract against Inflammatory Pain: In Vivo Studies in Mice
Laura Micheli,
Marzia Vasarri,
Emanuela Barletta,
Elena Lucarini,
Carla Ghelardini,
Donatella Degl’Innocenti,
Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli
Affiliations
Laura Micheli
Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA)‐Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini, 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
Marzia Vasarri
Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
Emanuela Barletta
Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
Elena Lucarini
Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA)‐Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini, 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
Carla Ghelardini
Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA)‐Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini, 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
Donatella Degl’Innocenti
Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli
Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA)‐Pharmacology and Toxicology Section, University of Florence, Viale Gaetano Pieraccini, 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is traditionally used for its beneficial properties. Recently, promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory biological properties emerged through studying the in vitro activity of the ethanolic leaves extract (POE). The present study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic role of POE in mice. Inflammatory pain was modeled in CD-1 mice by the intraplantar injection of carrageenan, interleukin IL-1β and formalin. Pain threshold was measured by von Frey and paw pressure tests. Nociceptive pain was studied by the hot-plate test. POE (10–100 mg kg−1) was administered per os. The paw soft tissue of carrageenan-treated animals was analyzed to measure anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. POE exerted a dose-dependent, acute anti-inflammatory effect able to counteract carrageenan-induced pain and paw oedema. Similar anti-hyperalgesic and anti-allodynic results were obtained when inflammation was induced by IL-1β. In the formalin test, the pre-treatment with POE significantly reduced the nocifensive behavior. Moreover, POE was able to evoke an analgesic effect in naïve animals. Ex vivo, POE reduced the myeloperoxidase activity as well as TNF-α and IL-1β levels; further antioxidant properties were highlighted as a reduction in NO concentration. POE is the candidate for a new valid strategy against inflammation and pain.
