Medicinal Plants Classification Biosynthesis and ... - Index of

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S.M.M. Vasconcelos, J.E.R. Honório Júnior, R.N.D. Cavalcante de Abreu et al.
2.1. Pro-inflammatory, Anti-inflammatory and Allergenic Properties
C. procera latex is well known for its medicinal and toxic properties. When locally
administered, latex induces an intense inflammatory process that can be characterized by
increase in vascular permeability, edema and cellular infiltrate (Padhy, Kumar, 2005). Such
inflammation is due to histamine derived from mast cells and also to the histamine present in
the latex. Thus, anti-histamine drugs can be used in the treatment of inflammation caused by
the exposition to the latex of this plant (Shivkar, Kumar, 2003).
The inflammation caused by latex has been demonstrated by many experimental models
of inflammation, such as paw edema, air bag (Singh et al., 2000) and rat pleurisies (Shivkar,
Kumar, 2003). Thus, latex is a potent flogistic agent that may be useful as a tool for research
of new anti-inflammatory drugs.
The inflammatory effects caused by proteins present in dried latex can be effectively
inhibited by cyproheptadine and refecoxib. The latter is superior to diclofenac in ameliorating
the hyperalgesia induced by DL (Sehgal, Kumar, 2005).
However, latex has also anti-inflammatory effects. Oral administration of aqueous
methanolic latex extract inhibited edema induced by carragenin and formalin. Histological
analysis demonstrated that latex extract was more potent than phenylbutazone to inhibit the
cellular infiltrate and subcutaneous edema induced by carragenin, suggesting that latex
inhibits mainly histamine and bradykinin (Arya, Kumar, 2005).
Latex inhibited inflammation in models of paw edema and air bag in rat experiments
(Kumar, Basu, 1994). Treatment with methanolic extract inhibits articular inflammation,
probably due to reduction of cellular influx and vascular permeability. These results suggest
an anti-arthritis activity of latex (Kumar, Roy, 2007).
Latex proteins may cause allergenic responses when in contact with the skin of
susceptible people. These proteins are sequestered during latex coagulation (Ramos et al.,
2007). Some proteins of this latex show a basic Isoelectric Point (IP) with molecular weight
(MW) from 5 to 95 kDa. The most common protein has MW of 26 kDa. Among the proteins,
cysteinyl proteases, quitinases and antioxidant proteins (superoxide dismutase) are found
(Freitas et al., 2007). Assays showed that resolubilized proteins of coagulated latex and nontreated
latex were able to stimulate immunologic activity when administered subcutaneously,
developing cutaneous anaphylaxis (Ramos et al., 2006).
Non dialyzed fraction of latex (NDFL) shows anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity
when intraperitoneally administrated. It would be interesting to assess if NDFL has these
activities by oral administration, because it does not produce allergy by this route (Ramos
et al., 2007).
2.2. Antinociceptive Properties
Latex powder by oral administration decreased significantly abdominal contortions
induced by acetic acid. Such effect was stronger when compared to pre-treatment with aspirin
(Dewan, Sangraula, Kumar, 2000).