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Planta Med 2019; 85(03): 203-209
DOI: 10.1055/a-0715-2002
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Spilanthol, the Principal Alkylamide from Acmella oleracea, Attenuates 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Intestinal Mucositis in Mice

Veronica Santana de Freitas-Blanco
1   Pharmacology, Anesthesiology, and Therapeutics, Department of Physiological Sciences, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
2   Chemical, Biological, and Agricultural Pluridisciplinary Research Center (CPQBA), Division of Chemistry of Natural Products, University of Campinas, Paulinia, SP, Brazil
,
Karin Maia Monteiro
3   Chemical, Biological, and Agricultural Pluridisciplinary Research Center (CPQBA), Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Campinas, Paulinia, SP, Brazil
,
Patrícia Rosa de Oliveira
4   São Paulo State University (UNESP), Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
,
Ellen Cristina Souza de Oliveira
3   Chemical, Biological, and Agricultural Pluridisciplinary Research Center (CPQBA), Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Campinas, Paulinia, SP, Brazil
,
Lucia Elaine de Oliveira Braga
1   Pharmacology, Anesthesiology, and Therapeutics, Department of Physiological Sciences, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
3   Chemical, Biological, and Agricultural Pluridisciplinary Research Center (CPQBA), Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Campinas, Paulinia, SP, Brazil
,
João Ernesto de Carvalho
3   Chemical, Biological, and Agricultural Pluridisciplinary Research Center (CPQBA), Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Campinas, Paulinia, SP, Brazil
5   Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
,
Rodney Alexandre Ferreira Rodrigues
1   Pharmacology, Anesthesiology, and Therapeutics, Department of Physiological Sciences, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
2   Chemical, Biological, and Agricultural Pluridisciplinary Research Center (CPQBA), Division of Chemistry of Natural Products, University of Campinas, Paulinia, SP, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 29 May 2018
revised 13 August 2018

accepted 17 August 2018

Publication Date:
28 August 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Mucositis is one of the commonest side effects in cancer patients undergoing treatment with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, and it currently lacks appropriate and effective treatment. Acmella oleracea, a species of flowering herb from South America, contains spilanthol, an alkylamide that has several pharmacological properties, including anesthetic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of spilanthol in intestinal mucositis in Swiss mice induced by 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), an antineoplastic agent administered systemically for the treatment of many different cancers. The repeated administration of 5-FU resulted in intestinal mucositis and consequent decreased food intake, together with weight loss, in all the animals. Daily administration of spilanthol significantly lowered the severity of intestinal mucositis, reducing histopathological changes and increasing the villus height in the animals treated with spilanthol at a dosage of 30 mg/kg (p < 0.0044) compared to a group exposed only to 5-FU. A decrease of myeloperoxidase activity was also observed in the animals treated with 30 mg/kg of spilanthol (p < 0.05), although several pro-inflammatory cytokines were not quantifiable in any group. In conclusion, the data demonstrated that spilanthol effectively reduced inflammation in a mouse model of intestinal mucositis induced by 5-FU, and that the compound might be a promising therapeutic candidate for the prevention and treatment of this condition.

Key words

spilanthol - Acmella oleracea - Compositae - intestinal mucositis - 5-fluorouracil - chemotherapy

Supporting Information

    The COSY spectrum of spilanthol (Fig. 1S) and the experimental protocol for induction of intestinal mucositis with 5-FU (Fig. 2S) are available as Supporting Information.

  • Supporting Information
 

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