Cuminaldehyde Effects in a MIA-Induced Experimental Model Osteoarthritis in Rat Knees
Sebastião Vieira de Morais, Priscylla Gouveia Mendonça, Cleydlenne Costa Vasconcelos, Paloma Larissa Arruda Lopes, João Batista Santos Garcia, Natália Tabosa Machado Calzerra, Thyago Moreira de Queiroz, Silvia Tereza de Jesus Rodrigues Moreira Lima, Gyl Eanes Barros Silva, Alberto Jorge Oliveira Lopes, Maria do Socorro de Sousa Cartágenes, Gerson Domingues
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease that has a significant global impact. It is associated with aging and characterized by widespread joint destruction. Cuminaldehyde is a biologically active component of essential oils that has shown promise in the treatment of nociceptive and inflammatory diseases. This study investigated the effects of cuminaldehyde on an experimental model of osteoarthritis induced in rat knees. Cuminaldehyde was found to be as effective as indomethacin in reducing pain in all evaluated tests, including forced walking, functional disability of weight distribution on the legs, and spontaneous pain in animals with osteoarthritis. The knees of animals treated with cuminaldehyde had significantly higher radiographic and histopathological scores than those of animals that did not receive the treatment. Cuminaldehyde also modulated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In vitro assays showed that cuminaldehyde preferentially inhibits COX-2 enzyme activity. In silico studies demonstrated that cuminaldehyde has satisfactory energy affinity parameters with opioid receptors and COX-2. These findings suggest that cuminaldehyde's anti-inflammatory activity is multifactorial, acting through multiple pathways. Its nociceptive activity occurs via central and peripheral mechanisms. Cuminaldehyde modulates the immune response of the inflammatory process and may be considered a leading compound for the development of new anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs.