Effect of Synadenium grantii and its isolated compound on dysmenorrhea behavior model in mice.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the methanol extract of Synadenium grantii Hook f. stems and its main isolated compound Query3,4,12,13-tetraacetylforbol-20-phenylacetate (1) on experimental dysmenorrhea in mice.

METHODS

Female Swiss mice (n = 6-15) of 6-8 weeks old were used, selected according to the period of the estrous cycle. Animals in proestrus were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) for 3 days with estradiol. They orally received, on the 4th day, S. grantii extract, the compound 1, ibuprofen or hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan compound®). Then they were injected (i.p.) with oxytocin 1 h later and individually observed regarding the abdominal writhing for 45 min. The uterus was weighed, photographed and fixed in paraffin for histological analysis.

RESULTS

The extract inhibited the abdominal writhing and similar results were obtained with compound 1 and the positive control drugs Ibuprofen and hyoscine butylbromide. Reduction of uterus volume and histological inflammatory parameters, such as oedema and leukocyte infiltrate, were observed in animals treated with the extract and compound 1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show promising activity of the extract against dysmenorrhea, indicating important anti-inflammatory activity. Compound 1 appears to be, at least in part, the main responsible for this promising biological effect.