Anti-inflammatory action of Justicia acuminatissima leaves

Abstract

In Amazonas State (Brazil), Justicia acuminatissima (Miq.) Bremek., Acanthaceae, leaf teas are used infolk medicine to treat several inflammatory illnesses. In order to validate this medicinal application,we analyzed the acute toxicity and antioxidant, antiedematogenic and antinociceptive potentials of anaqueous extract of this species, using culture cells and animal models. The aqueous extract did not causetoxic effects on human lymphocytes in high concentration (400 _g/ml), neither on mice treated with highdoses (5000 mg/kg) in an acute toxicity analysis by oral route, and also did not cause lesions in the gastricmucosa of animals treated with 300 mg/kg, which was the maximal dose used in the anti-inflammatoryscreening. The aqueous extract caused inhibition of inflammatory pain in formalin-induced paw lickingtest with all tested doses, 30, 100 and 300 mg/kg, and antiedematogenic activity at 100 and 300 mg/kg.Additionally, the aqueous extract presented statistically significant action on the release of nitric oxide bylipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages. These results and other preliminary studies support the folkuse of this species, and further investigation of its action mechanism by inhibition of COX-2 or relatedmetabolite would be interesting.