Abstract
Pereskia sacharosa Griseb. is a plant used in traditional herbal medicine to treat inflammation. We analyzed the phenolic content of P. sacharosa leaves (EEPs) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of EEPs and its flavonoid fraction (F10) in animal models subjected to acute neuroinflammation induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Coronal brain sections of C57BL/6JN male mice or Wistar male rats administered with EEPs or F10 before LPS were subjected to in situ hybridization to determine c-fos and CD14 mRNA levels in the hypothalamus or GABAA γ2 mRNA levels in the hippocampus. Theta oscillations were recorded every 6 h in the hippocampus of Wistar rats. In total, five flavonoids and eight phenolic acids were identified and quantified in P. sacharosa leaves. Either EEPs or F10 crossed the blood-brain barrier (BBB) into the brain and reduced the mRNA expression of c-fos, CD14, and GABAA γ2. A decrease in theta oscillation was observed in the hippocampus of the LPS group, while the F10 + LPS group overrode the LPS effect on theta activity. We conclude that the bioactive compounds of P. sacharosa reduce the central response to inflammation, allowing the early return of ambulatory activity and well-being of the animal.