@article {499, title = {UP1306, a Botanical Composition with Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Effect}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {8}, year = {2016}, month = {May 2016}, pages = {186-192}, type = {Original Article}, chapter = {186}, abstract = {

Background: Pain, one of the cardinal signs of inflammation, is the most common clinical manifestations of arthritis. Conventional pain relief therapy heavily relies on the use of prescription and over the counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as the first line of defense where their long-term usage causes deleterious gastrointestinal and cardiovascular-related side-effects. Hence, there is an equivocal need for evidence-based safer and efficacious alternatives from natural sources to overcome the most prominent and disabling symptoms of arthritis. Materials and Methods: Carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and abdominal constriction (writhing{\textquoteright}s) assays in mouse were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of UP1306, a composition that contains a standardized blend of extracts from the heartwood of Acacia catechu and the root bark of Morus alba administered orally at dose ranges of 100{\textendash}300 mg/kg. Cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibition assays were carried out to determine the IC50 of Acacia and Morus extracts. The merit of combining these two extracts was also assessed. Results: Statistically significant improvement in pain resistance and suppression of edema were observed in animals treated with UP1306, when compared to vehicle-treated diseased rats and mice. Results from the high dose of UP1306 (300 mg/kg) were similar to those achieved by ibuprofen treatment at a dose of 200 mg/kg in early hours of treatment. In vitro, UP1306 showed dose-dependent inhibition of the enzymatic activities of COX and LO with IC50 values of 20.9 μg/mL, 49.2 μg/mL, and 11.1 μg/mL in COX-1, COX-2, and 5{\textquoteright}-LO, respectively. Conclusions: These data suggest that UP1306, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory agent of botanical origin with dual COX-LO inhibition activity, could potentially be used to alleviate symptom associated to osteoarthritis.

}, keywords = {Acacia catechu, cyclooxygenase-LO dual inhibition, inflammatory pain, Morus alba, osteoarthritis}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.182918}, author = {Mesfin Yimam and Young-Chul Lee and Ping Jiao and Mei Hong and Jeong-Bum Nam and Lidia Brownell and Eujin Hyun and Qi Jia} } @article {645, title = {UP446, Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Botanical Composition}, journal = {Pharmacognosy Research}, volume = {5}, year = {2013}, month = {May 2013}, pages = {139-145}, type = {Original Article }, chapter = {139}, abstract = {

Background:\ Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease. Long-term use of currently available therapies for RA produces adverse effects that limit dosage and duration; hence there is a need for safe and effective alternatives suitable for long term chronic use. UP446, a composition consisting primarily of baicalin from\ Scutellaria baicalensis\ Georgi (Family: Lamiaceae) and (+)-catechin from the heartwoods of\ Acacia catechu\ (Family: Mimosaceae), has been previously shown to reduce production of eicosanoids and leukotrienes through dual inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes and to decreased mRNA and protein levels of the proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α.\ Aim:\ To evaluate the likelihood of UP446 in moderating arthritis and its associated symptoms in an experimental animal model of RA.\ Materials and Methods:\ A RA rat model was induced by injecting Freund{\textquoteright}s complete adjuvant into left and right hind paw and base of the tail. Animals were administered UP446 (50 mg/kg), ibuprofen (150 mg/kg mg/kg) or vehicle by oral gavage 30 min prior to arthritis induction and each day thereafter for 14 days.\ Result:\ Animals treated with UP446 showed 23.7, 31.9, 33.4, 29.3, and 33.1\% reduction in pain sensitivity; 46.0, 36.7, 33.7, 34.8, and 33.4\% reduction in ankle diameter on days 3, 5, 7, 9, and 13; respectively; compared to vehicle. Similarly paw edema was significantly reduced with an average of 30\% for the first inflammatory reaction period (day 1-8) followed by 37.1 and 33.6\% reduction on day 9 and 13.\ Conclusion:\ These data indicate potential benefit of UP446 in alleviating symptoms of RA and support human clinical evaluation of this botanical composition in patients with RA.

}, keywords = {Acacia catechu, Inflammation, Pain, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scutellaria Baicalensis Georgi}, doi = {10.4103/0974-8490.112406 }, author = {Mesfin Yimam and Lidia Brownell and Mandee Pantier and Qi Jia} }