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Analgesic activity of a polysaccharide in experimental osteoarthritis in rats

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An Erratum to this article was published on 08 March 2007

Abstract

Viscosupplementation efficacy has been related to the high molecular weight of hyaluronic acid-like compounds, as well as to gel formulation. We evaluated the effect of a galactomannan polysaccharide derived from Guar gum (GG) in joint pain in an osteoarthritis (OA) model. Wistar rats (six animals/group) were subjected to anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT-OA group). The OA group was compared to a false-operated group (sham). Joint pain was recorded daily, using the articular incapacitation test, until 7 days after ACLT. Solutions or gel preparations of GG (100 μg) or Hylan G-F 20 (100 μg), used as a comparator, were given intraarticularly (i.a.) at day 4 after ACLT. Controls received saline i.a. The OA group had significantly increased joint pain as compared to sham (P < 0.001). GG, either as a gel or solution, significantly inhibited joint pain similar to the inhibition achieved with Hylan G-F20. This is the first demonstration that a galactomannan derived from GG reduces joint pain in experimental OA. This analgesia is independent of the colloidal state. We propose that the analgesic benefit of viscosupplementation may be due to an intrinsic carbohydrate-mediated mechanism rather than to the rheologic properties of the material.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Brazilian official agencies, “Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior” (CAPES) and “Fundação Cearense de Apoio à Pesquisa” (FUNCAP), for the financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil

    Rondinelle Ribeiro Castro

  2. Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil

    Judith Pessoa Andrade Feitosa & Pablyana Leila Rodrigues da Cunha

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil

    Francisco Airton Castro da Rocha

Authors
  1. Rondinelle Ribeiro Castro
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  2. Judith Pessoa Andrade Feitosa
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  3. Pablyana Leila Rodrigues da Cunha
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  4. Francisco Airton Castro da Rocha
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francisco Airton Castro da Rocha.

Additional information

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10067-007-0570-9.

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Castro, R.R., Feitosa, J.P.A., da Cunha, P.L.R. et al. Analgesic activity of a polysaccharide in experimental osteoarthritis in rats. Clin Rheumatol 26, 1312–1319 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-006-0506-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-006-0506-9

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