The folk medicine as tool for discovery of new anti-inflammatory drugs: the example of Spermacoce verticillata

In the aqueous extract of leaves (SVL) and stems (SVC) of Spermacoce verticillata (L.) G. Mey. the flavonoids rutin and kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside, and chlorogenic acid were identified. Oral (p.o.) treatment with SVL and SVC (1 g kg(-1)) inhibited the leukocyte migration to pleural cavity by 33.7 and 47.9%, respectively when compared to vehicle group on carrageenan-induced pleurisy. Similarly butanol (SVB - 200 mg kg(-1)), ethyl acetate (SVAe - 25 mg kg(-1)) and flavonoidic fractions (SVLFL - 20 mg kg(-1)) of SVL inhibited the leukocyte migration by 68.5, 77.4 and 77.5%, respectively. In the croton oil-induced ear edema and the acetic acid-induced writhing tests, SVL (0.1, 0.3 or 1 g kg(-1), p.o.) produced a dose-related inhibition of edematogenic and nociceptive responses, respectively at the high dose. The chemotaxis inhibitory activity of both extracts and the anti-edematogenic and antinociceptive activities of SVL are characteristic effects of anti-inflammatory drugs, and these results highlight the therapeutic potential of S. verticillata against inflammatory diseases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report for the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities for S. verticillata.