Tephrosia sinapou extract reduces inflammatory leukocyte recruitment in mice: effect on oxidative stress, nitric oxide and cytokine production

Tephrosia toxicaria (Sw.) Pers., which is currently known as T. sinapou (Buc'hoz) A. Chev., Fabaceae, is a source of compounds such as flavonoids, however, few studies addressed the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of T. sinapou. Therefore, we evaluated the antioxidant mechanisms of the T. sinapou ethyl acetate extract in vitro, and whether the extract affects leukocyte recruitment in four models of inflammation and the involvement of nitric oxide and cytokines in its mechanism. In vitro, it was observed that the extract presented hydrogen donating ability to 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH center dot), 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical (ABTS(+)), and also efficiently inhibited iron-dependent and independent lipid peroxidation and iron chelation assays. In vivo, it inhibited the recruitment of total leukocytes and neutrophil induced by carrageenin, zymosan, glycogen and lipopolysaccharide in the peritoneal cavity of mice. Two mechanisms were detected: 1) T. sinapou effect on leukocyte recruitment depends on nitric oxide since was dose-dependently inhibited by treatment with L-NAME (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor), and 2) the extract also inhibited the production of crucial cytokines for the leukocyte recruitment; tumor necrosis factor a and interleukin-1 beta. Concluding, T. sinapou ethyl acetate extract reduces oxidative stress in vitro, and inflammatory leukocyte recruitment by a mechanism related to inhibition of cytokine production, and in a nitric oxide dependent manner in vivo.