Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
Pharm Biol. 2011 Jan;49(1):15-25. doi: 10.3109/13880209.2010.492479. Epub 2010 Sep 7.
Nauclea latifolia Smith (Rubiaceae) is a small tree found in tropical areas in Africa. It is used in traditional medicine to treat malaria, epilepsy, anxiety, pain, fever, etc.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Nauclea latifolia roots decoction on the peripheral and central nervous systems and its possible mechanisms of action.
The analgesic investigation was carried out against acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin-induced pain, hot-plate and tail immersion tests. The antipyretic activity was studied in Brewer's yeast-induced pyrexia in mice. Rota-rod test and bicuculline-induced hyperactivity were used for the assessment of locomotor activity.
Nauclea latifolia induced hypothermia and had antipyretic effects in mice. The plant decoction produced significant antinociceptive activity in all analgesia animal models used. The antinociceptive effect exhibited by the decoction in the formalin test was reversed by the systemic administration of naloxone, N(ω)-L-nitro-arginine methyl ester or glibenclamide. In contrast, theophylline did not reverse this effect. Nauclea latifolia (antinociceptive doses) did not exhibit a significant effect on motor coordination of the mice in Rota-rod performance. Nauclea latifolia protected mice against bicuculline-induced behavioral excitation.
Overall, these results demonstrate that the central and peripheral effects of Nauclea latifolia root decoction might partially or wholly be due to the stimulation of peripheric opioid receptors through the action of the nitric oxide/cyclic monophosphate guanosin/triphosphate adenosine (NO/cGMP/ATP)-sensitive- K(+) channel pathway and/or facilitation of the GABAergic transmission.
白花酸藤果（茜草科）是一种在非洲热带地区发现的小树。它在传统医学中用于治疗疟疾、癫痫、焦虑、疼痛、发热等。
本研究旨在探讨白花酸藤果根煎剂对周围和中枢神经系统的影响及其可能的作用机制。
采用醋酸诱导扭体、福尔马林诱导疼痛、热板和尾部浸入试验进行镇痛研究。采用 brewer 酵母诱导发热法研究解热活性。旋转棒试验和印防己毒素诱导过度活动用于评估运动活动。
白花酸藤果在小鼠中引起体温降低和退热作用。植物煎剂在所有使用的镇痛动物模型中均产生显著的镇痛活性。在福尔马林试验中，该煎剂的镇痛作用被纳洛酮、N（ω）-L-硝基-精氨酸甲酯或格列本脲的全身给药逆转。相比之下，茶碱没有逆转这种作用。白花酸藤果（镇痛剂量）对旋转棒性能中小鼠的运动协调没有显著影响。白花酸藤果可保护小鼠免受印防己毒素诱导的行为兴奋。
总的来说，这些结果表明，白花酸藤果根煎剂的中枢和外周作用可能部分或全部归因于通过一氧化氮/环单磷酸鸟苷/三磷酸腺苷（NO/cGMP/ATP）敏感钾通道途径刺激外周阿片受体和/或促进 GABA 能传递。
