Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of hydrazone derivatives and their possible mechanism of action in mice

PLoS One. 2021 Nov 24;16(11):e0258094. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258094. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Pain and inflammation are unpleasant experiences that usually occur as a result of tissue damage. Despite the number of existing analgesic drugs, side effects limit their use, stimulating the search for new therapeutic agents. In this sense, five hydrazone derivatives (H1, H2, H3, H4, and H5), with general structure R1R2C = NNR3R4, were synthesized with molecular modification strategies. In this paper, we describe the ability of hydrazone derivatives to attenuate nociceptive behavior and the inflammatory response in mice. Antinociceptive activity was evaluated through acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin-induced nociception tests. In both experimental models, the hydrazone with the greatest potency (H5) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced nociceptive behavior. Additionally, methods of acute and chronic inflammation induced by different chemicals (carrageenan and histamine) were performed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of H5. Moreover, molecular docking analysis revealed that H5 can block the COX-2 enzyme, reducing arachidonic acid metabolism and consequently decreasing the production of prostaglandins, which are important inflammatory mediators. H5 also changes locomotor activity. In summary, H5 exhibited relevant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potential and acted on several targets, making it a candidate for a new multi-target oral anti-inflammatory drug.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics / chemistry
  • Analgesics / pharmacology*
  • Analgesics / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Artemia / drug effects
  • Carrageenan
  • Edema / chemically induced
  • Edema / drug therapy
  • Hydrazones / chemical synthesis
  • Hydrazones / chemistry
  • Hydrazones / pharmacology*
  • Hydrazones / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Toxicity Tests

Substances

  • Analgesics
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Hydrazones
  • Carrageenan

Grants and funding

The authors would like to thank Prof. Lídia Moreira Lima and Eliezer J. Barreiro, and the Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Fármacos e Medicamentos (INCTINOFAR), Project CNPq 465.249/2014-0, Project FAPERJ E-26/010.000090/2018, for the financial support.