Chemical composition, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in mice of the essential oil of Psidium cattleyanum Sabine leaves.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: One of the native species of the genus most often mentioned by traditional people is Psidium cattleyanum Sabine, which is used mostly to treat disorders of the respiratory, genitourinary, and digestive systems. These symptoms are mainly treated by the decoction of the leaves. Additionally, there are gaps in the in vivo and toxicity investigations of this species. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was evaluate antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potential of essential oil from P. cattleyanum leaves in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to examine the essential oil of P. cattleyanum. The acute toxicity test was then done with a 2000 mg/kg dosage. The oil at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg orally, as well as the reference medications Morphine 10.0 mg/kg IP and/or Indomethacin 20.0 mg/kg IP, were tested using nociception (abdominal writhing, formalin, and tail immersion) and inflammatory models (paw edema and peritonitis). RESULTS: The phytochemical assay showed a high concentration of ß-caryophyllene (46.68%) and α-caryophyllene (10.81%). In the in vivo assays, P. cattleyanum essential oil proved to be an important antinociceptive agent, reaching 76.96% inhibition of abdominal writhing with acetic acid and 67.12% in the formalin assay. An increase in latency time in the tail test was also reported. In the test with carrageenan, the oil showed significant inhibition compared to the control. A decrease in the migration of leukocytes was also reported in the group treated with P. cattleyanum, reaching 60.49% at the dose of 200 mg/kg. CONCLUSIONS: The essential oil from the leaves of P. cattleyanum has anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive action and has potential for application in the pharmaceutical and food industry.

Chemical composition and evaluation of the antinociceptive, antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of essential oil from Hymenaea cangaceira (Pinto, Mansano & Azevedo) native to Brazil: A natural medicine.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hymenaea cangaceira Pinto, Mansano & Azevedo (Fabaceae) is a Brazilian medicinal plant widely known as "Jatobá". In folk medicine, it is used to treat infections, respiratory problems, rheumatism, antitumoral, inflammation and pain, however, no activity has been scientifically validated. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated chemical composition of essential oil from Hymenaea cangaceira (EOHc), antimicrobial, antinociceptive and antioxidant activities besides protection against DNA damage and hemolysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation, and characterized by GC-MS and GC-FID. The evaluation of antimicrobial activity was performed by microdilution method. The evaluation of the antioxidant activity was performed using the radicals DPPH, ABTS, O2- and OH-, and the protection of DNA damage using plasmid pBR322. Different experimental models were used to evaluate the antinociceptive effect (acetic acid and formalin), and evaluate the mechanisms of action involved with pharmacological antagonists (naloxone, atropine and gibenclamide) in mice. The essential oil was evaluated for hemolysis on human erythrocytes. RESULTS: The extraction of EOHc showed a yield of 0.18% on a dry basis, presenting high content of hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes (79.04%), high antioxidant activity and protect DNA from damage, besides presenting antifungal and antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in vitro. It was found that the essential oil had no acute toxicity in mice up to 5000 mg/kg oral administration (o.a.), in addition to no hemolysis on human erythrocytes. The reduction of antinociceptive activity was 75%, with the opioid system as the mechanism of action. CONCLUSION: Our results validate the main activities by the traditional use attributed to H. cangaceira for antimicrobial and analgesic activity. In addition, the oil has a potent antioxidant activity, protecting the body against oxidative stress damage, adding new value to an endemic species not known to the industry.