Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of compounds isolated from Scaphyglottis livida and Maxillaria densa

Oral administration of a CH₂Cl₂-MeOH (1:1) extract of Scaphyglottis livida produced dose-dependent antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects when tested in mice and rats using the hot-plate (150-600 mg/kg) and carrageenan-induced inflammation (150-600 mg/kg) models, respectively. Morphine (1.5-6 mg/kg, p.o.) and indomethacin (10-40 mg/kg, p.o.) were used as positive controls, respectively. Four compounds were isolated from the active extract of Scaphyglottis livida, namely 5α-lanosta-24,24-dimethyl-9(11),25-dien-3β-ol (LDD), 24,24,dimethyl-9,19-cyclolanosta-9(11),25-dien-3-one (cyclobalanone), gigantol and 3,4′-dihydroxy-3′,4,5-trimethoxybibenzyl (DTB). LDD and gigantol (25-100 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly increased the hot-plate latency in comparison to vehicle-treated mice and decreased carrageenan-induced inflammation in rats. The antinociception provoked by LDD and gigantol was partially blocked by naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.). However, pretreatment with l-NAME (100 mg/kg, i.p.) and glibenclamide (10 mg/kg, i.p.) did not affect the antinociceptive response induced by LDD or gigantol suggesting that their pharmacological effect could be partially due to activation of opioid receptors. Moreover, a CH₂Cl₂-MeOH (1:1) extract of Maxillaria densa reduced acetic acid-induced abdominal writhes but was not able to produce antinociception in the hot-plate assay. Two compounds were isolated from the active extract of Maxillaria densa, namely fimbriol A and erianthridin. Both compounds partially reduced acetic acid-induced writhes. The results tend to support the popular use of this species in folk medicine for treatment of painful complaints.