Zinc deficiency disrupts pain signaling promoting nociceptive but not inflammatory pain in mice.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient involved in the physiology of nervous system and pain modulation. There is little evidence for the role of nutritional Zn alternations to the onset and progression of neuropathic (NP) and inflammatory pain. The study investigated the effects of a zinc restricted diet on the development of pain.

Echinodorus macrophyllus: Hydroxycinnamoyl derivatives reduces neutrophil migration through modulation of cytokines, chemokines, and prostaglandin in the air-pouch model.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: In Brazil, Echinodorus macrophyllus (Alismataceae), popularly known as chapéu-de-couro, is used to treat inflammatory diseases. Previous studies have shown a significant decrease in the acute inflammation for the aqueous extract of E. macrophyllus (AEEm) and its ethanolic fraction (Fr20).

Dermatopharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation of a novel nanostructured formulation containing capsaicinoids for treating neuropathic pain.

The in vivo skin penetration by dermal microdialysis and the pharmacological efficacy of a chitosan hydrogel containing capsaicinoids-loaded nanocapsules (CHNC) was evaluated in this study. Such gel has previously been proven to control capsaicinoids release and decrease the drugs side effects in humans. The nanocapsules containing capsaicinoids had an average size around 150 nm, with a low polydispersity index, positive zeta potential, and high encapsulation efficiency of the drugs.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) water tank model for the investigation of drug metabolism: Progress, outlook, and challenges.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) water tank (ZWT) approach was investigated as an alternative model for metabolism studies based on six different experiments with four model compounds. Sibutramine was applied for the multivariate optimization of ZWT conditions, also for the comparison of the metabolism among ZWT, humans and mice, beyond for the role of CYP2B6 in ZWT. After the optimization, 18 fish and 168 hours of experiments is the minimum requirement for a relevant panel of biotransformation products.

Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids Supplementation Accelerates Nerve Regeneration and Prevents Neuropathic Pain Behavior in Mice.

Fish oil (FO) is the main source of long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs), which display relevant analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Peripheral nerve injury is driven by degeneration, neuroinflammation, and neuronal plasticity which results in neuropathic pain (NP) symptoms such as allodynia and hyperalgesia. We tested the preventive effect of an EPA/DHA-concentrate fish oil (CFO) on NP development and regenerative features.

Fish oil attenuates persistent inflammatory pain in rats through modulation of TNF-α and resolvins.

Unlabelled: Fish oil (FO), source of omega-3 fatty acids (FA), has been widely studied in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and inflammatory pain (IP). Omega-3 FA give rise to eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids, metabolized to eicosanoids and converted to resolvins with important anti-inflammatory action.

Aims: This study investigates the effects of oral doses of omega-3 FA from FO and concentrated fish oil (CFO) in a model of sub-chronic IP, induced by Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA).

LASSBio-1135: a dual TRPV1 antagonist and anti-TNF-alpha compound orally effective in models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

LASSBio-1135 is an imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivative with high efficacy in screening models of nociception and inflammation, presumed as a weak COX-2 inhibitor. In order to tease out its mechanism of action, we investigated others possible target for LASSBio-1135, such as TNF-α and TRPV1, to better characterize it as a multitarget compound useful in the treatment of chronic pain. TRPV1 modulation was assessed in TRPV1-expressing Xenopus oocytes against capsaicin and low pH-induced current.

Discovery of novel orally active anti-inflammatory N-phenylpyrazolyl-N-glycinyl-hydrazone derivatives that inhibit TNF-α production.

Herein, we describe the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel N-phenylpyrazolyl-N-glycinyl-hydrazone derivatives that were designed as novel prototypes of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors. All of the novel synthesized compounds described in this study were evaluated for their in vitro capacity to inhibit tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α production in cultured macrophages) and in vitro MAPK p38α inhibition. The two most active anti-TNF-α derivatives, (E)-2-(3-tert-butyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-ylamino)-N'-((4-(2-morpholinoethoxy)naphthalen-1-yl)methylene)acetohydrazide (4a) and (E)-2-(3-tert-butyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-ylamino)-N'-(4-chlorobenzylidene)acetohydrazide (4f), were evaluated to determine their in vivo anti-hyperalgesic profiles in carrageenan-induced thermal hypernociception model in rats.

Docking, synthesis and pharmacological activity of novel urea-derivatives designed as p38 MAPK inhibitors.

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) is an important signal transducing enzyme involved in many cellular regulations, including signaling pathways, pain and inflammation. Several p38 MAPK inhibitors have been developed as drug candidates to treatment of autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis. In this paper we reported the docking, synthesis and pharmacological activity of novel urea-derivatives (4a-e) designed as p38 MAPK inhibitors.

Antinociceptive and hypothermic evaluation of the leaf essential oil and isolated terpenoids from Eugenia uniflora L. (Brazilian Pitanga).

Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae), known as Brazilian cherry tree, is a fruity tree spread all over Brazil used in popular medicine to treat inflammations, rheumatic pain and fever, as hypoglycemic, diuretic and has been widely used in the cosmetics industry. The present study discusses the chemical composition, the antinociceptive and hypothermic profile of the essential oil of pitangueira leaves.

Discovery of novel analgesic and anti-inflammatory 3-arylamine-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine symbiotic prototypes.

We describe herein the design, synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel 3-arylamine-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives structurally designed as novel symbiotic prototypes presenting analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The derivatives obtained were submitted to in vivo assays of nociception, hyperalgesia and inflammation, and to in vitro assays of human PGHS-2 inhibition. These assays allowed the identification of compound LASSBio-1135 (3a) as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic symbiotic prototype.