ABSTRACT
Croton celtidifolius Bailon, commonly known as Sangue-de-Adáve or Pau-Andrade, is a tree found in the Atlantic forest of southern Brazil. It has been popularly used for the treatment of inflammatory and ulcerative disorders. Phytochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of flavonoids and proanthocyanidins in an ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) from C. celtidifolius Bailon. In this study, we have evaluated the effects of EAF and its sub-fractions (35 and 63, catechin) on inflammatory (cell migration and plasma extravasation) and oxidative (lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and superoxide anion production) parameters in carrageenan-induced pleurisy in rats. NO production was also measured by nitrite/nitrate levels. EAF and sub-fraction 63 (63SF) showed anti-inflammatory activity, as indicated by a reduction in plasma extravasation and cell migration (mainly polymorphonuclear leukocytes) to the pleural cavity. Furthermore, EAF treatment decreased the production of superoxide radical anion by cells isolated from the pleural cavity, while it did not affect the nitrite/nitrate levels in exudates. The results show that C. celtidifolius contains substances with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity that, at least in part, act by a modulation of oxidative stress by phenolic compounds.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/pharmacology , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Croton , Phytotherapy , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Pleurisy/prevention & control , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/administration & dosage , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use , Antioxidants/administration & dosage , Antioxidants/therapeutic use , Carrageenan , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Leukocytes/drug effects , Leukocytes/metabolism , Male , Malondialdehyde/metabolism , Plant Bark , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Pleurisy/chemically induced , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Superoxide Dismutase/metabolismABSTRACT
Croton celtidifolius Baill commonly known as "sangue-de-adave" is a tree found in the Atlantic Forest of south of Brazil, mainly in Santa Catarina. The bark and leaf infusions of this medicinal plant have been popularly used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In this study we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of crude extract (CE), aqueous fraction (AqF), ethyl acetate fraction (EAF), butanolic fraction (BuF) and catechin, gallocatechin and sub-fractions, 19SF, 35SF and 63SF that contained a mixture of proanthocyanidins and were derived from the EAF fraction. The CE, AqF, EAF, BuF, catechin and sub-fractions 35SF and 63SF reduced paw edema induced by carrageenan. The CE, fractions, sub-fractions and isolated compounds showed antioxidant properties in vitro, all were able to scavenge superoxide anions at a concentration of 100 microg ml(-1). The EAF, catechin and gallocatechin were most effective in the deoxyribose assay, IC50 0.69 (0.44-1.06), 0.20 (0.11-0.39), 0.55 (0.28-1.08) microg x ml(-1) respectively. The CE and other fractions and sub-fractions inhibited deoxyribose degradation up to 1 microg x ml(-1). In the hydrophobic system only AqF did not show lipid peroxidation inhibition. The CE, other fractions, sub-fractions and isolated compounds inhibited lipidid peroxidation only at a concentration of 100 microg x ml(-1). In summary, this study demonstrates that Croton celtidifolius bark has significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.
