Inhibition of neutrophil migration and reduction of oxidative stress by ethyl p-coumarate in acute and chronic inflammatory models

Abstract Background It is well known that medicinal plants and their products are relevant candidates for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Ethyl p -coumarate is a phenylpropanoid that has similar structure to others anti-inflammatory and antioxidant substances. However, these activities have never been tested. Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethyl p -coumarate on inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters. Study design This is an experimental study to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of ethyl p -coumarate in acute and chronic models of inflammation. Methods The anti-inflammatory effect of ethyl p -coumarate was evaluated in Swiss mice by carrageenan-induced paw edema model (1%, 50 μl), followed by histological analysis, and edema induced by compound 48/80 (12 µg/paw), histamine (100  µg/paw), serotonin (100 µg/paw) and prostaglandin E2 (3 nmol/paw) in comparison to indomethacin treatment (10 mg/kg, p.o. ). In addition, peritonitis was induced by carrageenan (500 μg/cavity) to neutrophil and total leukocytes counting, myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and 8 (IL-8), nitrite (NO 2 − ), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) measurements. The arthritis model was induced with Freund's complete adjuvant (id. 0.1 ml) in female Wistar rats, with measurement of joint diameter and X-ray. Changes in gastric tissue of Swiss mice were analyzed in comparison to indomethacin (20  mg/kg, p.o .). Results After treatment with ethyl p -coumarate, the animals had no apparent toxic effects, and significantly inhibited paw edema induced by edematogenic agents, neutrophil ( p p p p p p p 2 − ( p Conclusion Taken together, these results suggest that ethyl p -coumarate exhibits anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibition of inflammatory mediators and leukocyte migration without causing gastric lesions.