Structural analysis and pharmacological implications in inflammatory pain of an arabinogalactan rich fraction from Eryngium foetidum leaves

Carbohydr Res. 2026 Apr 7;565:109921. doi: 10.1016/j.carres.2026.109921. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Tea made from the leaves of Eryngium foetidum is traditionally consumed by the Amazonian population for treatment of pain and inflammation. This study was carried out with a polysaccharide fraction (EFS100R) obtained from the hot aqueous extract of E. foetidum leaves. Structural analysis revealed that the polysaccharides of EFS100R are predominantly constituted by galactose, galacturonic acid and arabinose monosaccharide units. Methylation and NMR spectroscopy further identified the fraction as primarily composed of type II arabinogalactan, with smaller proportions of homogalacturonan and type I rhamnogalacturonan. To evaluate the potential antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of EFS100R, the abdominal writhing model induced by acetic acid in mice was used. Results demonstrated that the E. foetidum polysaccharide fraction significantly reduced the number of writhing episodes, leukocyte migration and plasma extravasation when previously administrated to the acetic acid intraperitoneally, indicating that EFS100R has therapeutic potential as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent. Thus, this study shows that water-soluble polysaccharides contribute to the effects related to the E. foetidum tea.

PMID:41999679 | DOI:10.1016/j.carres.2026.109921