Schinus terebinthifolius: phenolic constituents and in vitro antioxidant, antiproliferative and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities

ABSTRACT Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, Anacardiaceae, native to Brazil, is referred to as "pimento-rosa" and is used to treat inflammatory disease in folk medicine. Studies have reported important pharmacological properties, but these effects have still not been fully exploited. This study reports that the crude extract and isolated compounds of S. terebinthifolius (leaves) have in vitro antioxidant, antiproliferative, and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities. The samples were evaluated for antioxidant activity using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, β-carotene/linoleic acid and 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulphonic acid reagents. The anti-inflammatory effects were assayed against a carrageenan-induced paw oedema model in mice to test doses of 10, 100 and 300 mg/kg at different time points in addition to myeloperoxidase activity analysis. The antiproliferative activity was evaluated using ten human tumour cell lines. Two derivatives of gallic acid and four flavonoids were isolated and exhibited considerable antioxidant activity. The extract and its compounds showed selectivity towards ovarian cancer cells, with growth inhibitory activity values ranging from 1.9 to 6.5 µg/ml. Sample extracts and methyl gallate significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced oedema in the mice paw oedema experimental model. The calculated topological polar surface area for methyl gallate (86.98 Å2) showed good intestinal absorption. The effects reported herein are be related to the presence of flavonoids and the galloyl phenolic derivative content.

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, chemopreventive and wound healing potentials from Schinus terebinthifolius methanolic extract

Inflammatory and genetic alterations are related to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer. Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, Anacardiaceae, is used in folk medicine to treat inflammation, wounds and tumors. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, chemopreventive, and wound healing potentials of the methanolic extract from the leaves of Schinus terebinthifolius. The chemical composition of the extract was characterized using preliminary analytical LC methods. The results showed that the anti-inflammatory activity of the methanolic extract was similar to that of dexamethasone for edema reduction. Also, it inhibited the leukocyte migration into the air pouch and decreased plasma extravasation. In addition, the methanolic extract showed a healing action similar to that observed with collagenase. The methanolic extract is not genotoxic nor mutagenic, and in contrast it has chemopreventive activity, which elicits a high percentage of damage reduction by comet and micronucleus assay, preferably by bioantimutagenic action. The methanolic extract induced apoptosis and enhanced splenic phagocytosis in animals treated with cyclophosphamide. The methanolic extract contents, resolved by LC, include phenolic acid and flavonoids. Our results suggest a therapeutic potential for the methanolic extract.

Free radical scavenging and anti-edematogenic activities of Paullinia elegans Cambess., Sapindaceae, leaves extracts / Atividades sequestradora de radicais livres e anti-edematogênica de extratos das folhas de Paullinia elegans Cambess., Sapindaceae

Ethanol extract of the leaves of Paullinia elegans Cambess., Sapindaceae, and its hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and hydroethanol fractions were evaluated for their antiedematogenic and free radical scavenging activities. The ethanol extract and the hexane fraction produced statistically significant inhibition (74.4 and 76.0 percent, respectively) of the ear edema induced by croton oil in mice, observed at doses of 5 mg/ear. The ethyl acetate and hydroethanol fractions showed significant radical scavenging effect in the DPPH assay, with IC50 of 36.7 and 30.1 µg/mL, respectively. Fractionation of the extracts through chromatographic methods afforded epifriedelanol, oleanolic acid 3-O-acetyl, a mixture of stigmasterol 3-β-O-glucopyranoside and sitosterol 3-β-O-glucopyranoside, kaempferol 3,7-O-α-dirhamnopyranoside, kaempeferol-3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside and 2-O-methyl-chiro-inositol. The compounds were identified on the basis of their NMR spectral data and comparison with those of literature.

O extrato etanólico das folhas de Paullinia elegans Cambess., Sapindaceae, e as frações n-hexano, clorofórmio, acetato de etila e hidroetanólica, obtidas de seu fracionamento, foram avaliadas quanto às suas atividades anti-edematogênica e sequestradora de radicais livres. O extrato etanólico e a fração hexano produziram inibição significativa (74,4 e 76,0 por cento, respectivamente) do edema da orelha induzido pelo óleo de cróton em ratos, em doses de 5 mg/orelha. As frações acetato de etila e hidroetanólica mostraram atividade sequestradora de radicais livres no ensaio de DPPH, com IC50 de 36,7 e de 30,1 µg/mL, respectivamente. O fracionamento dos extratos pelo uso de métodos cromatográficos resultou no isolamento do epifriedelanol, ácido 3-O-acetil oleanólico, mistura do stigmasterol 3-β-O-glucopiranosídeo e sitosterol 3-β-O-glucopiranosídeo, canferol, canferol 3,7-O-α-diramnopiranosídeo, canferol 3-O-α-ramnopiranosídeo e 2-O-metil-chiro-inositol. Os compostos foram identificados com base na comparação de seus dados espectroscópicos de RMN com os da literatura.