Quercetin Reduces Inflammatory Pain: Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Cytokine Production

• Published in: Journal of natural products (Washington, D.C.) D.C.), 2009-11, Vol.72 (11), p.1975-1979
• Main Authors: Valério, Daniel A, Georgetti, Sandra R, Magro, Danilo A, Casagrande, Rubia, Cunha, Thiago M, Vicentini, Fabiana T. M. C, Vieira, Silvio M, Fonseca, Maria J. V, Ferreira, Sergio H, Cunha, Fernando Q, Verri, Waldiceu A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analgesics; Analgesics - chemistry; Analgesics - pharmacology; Antioxidants - chemistry; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Products - chemistry; Biological Products - pharmacology; Cytokines - drug effects; Cytokines - metabolism; General pharmacology; Inflammation - physiopathology; Medical sciences; Molecular Structure; Neuropharmacology; Oxidative Stress; Pain - drug therapy; Pharmacognosy. Homeopathy. Health food; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Quercetin - chemistry; Quercetin - pharmacology
• ISSN: 0163-3864; 1520-6025
• DOI: 10.1021/np900259y

Quercetin (1) is known to have both antioxidant and antinociceptive effects. However, the mechanism involved in its antinociceptive effect is not fully elucidated. Cytokines and reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the cascade of events resulting in inflammatory pain. Therefore, we evaluated the antinociceptive mechanism of 1 focusing on the role of cytokines and oxidative stress. Intraperitoneal and oral treatments with 1 dose-dependently inhibited inflammatory nociception induced by acetic acid and phenyl-p-benzoquinone and also the second phase of formalin- and carrageenin-induced mechanical hypernociception. Compound 1 also inhibited the hypernociception induced by cytokines (e.g., TNFα and CXCL1), but not by inflammatory mediators that directly sensitize the nociceptor such as PGE2 and dopamine. On the other hand, 1 reduced carrageenin-induced IL-1β production as well as carrageenin-induced decrease of reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. These results suggest that 1 exerts its analgesic effect by inhibiting pro-nociceptive cytokine production and the oxidative imbalance mediation of inflammatory pain.