The Antinociceptive Effect of Lonchocarpus Araripensis Lectin is Mediated by Endocannabinoid Receptors

The involvement of endocannabinoid receptors in the antinociceptive activity of Lonchocarpus araripensis lectin (LAL) was investigated in the model of carragenan-induced hypernociception. Swiss mice received LAL (10 mg/kg) by intravenous (i.v.) route 30 min before subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of carrageenan in the paws. Animals were treated with the antagonists of CB1 (AM251) or CB2 (AM630) cannabinoid receptors 30 min before the lectin. LAL inhibited the hypernociception induced by carrageenan (1 h: 11.87 ± 0.61 g; 3 h: 9.7 ± 0.70 g). AM251 (1 h: 4.75 ± 0.41 g; 3 h: 4.5 ± 0.53 g) and AM630 (1 h: 5.67 ± 0.56 g; 3 h: 5 ± 0.68 g) reversed the inhibitory effect of LAL. The antinociceptive effect of Lonchocarpus araripensis lectin is mediated by endocannabinoid receptors.