title: Phytochemical and pharmacological investigations of Virola oleifera leaves.
abstract: A methanolic extract and two fractions (n-hexane and ethyl acetate) from Virola oleifera leaves and some compounds (one lignan and two flavonoids) were investigated to verify the analgesic activity by using the writhing test in mice. The crude methanolic extract showed a moderate analgesic effect (about 40% of inhibition in this test at 10 mg/kg), whereas n-hexane and ethyl acetate fractions caused inhibition of 51.3 +/- 5.9% and 50.5 +/- 6.3%, respectively. Oleiferin-C (1), a lignan isolated from the n-hexane fraction, showed an interesting analgesic potential in this model when compared to two standard drugs, paracetamol (4-acetamidophenol) and aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid). The ID50 calculated for this compound was 17.25 micromol/kg, with confidence interval between 13.7 and 21.3 micromol/kg, being about 8 times more potent than the standard drugs. The mixture of two glycoside-flavonoids, identified as astilbin (2) and quercitrin (3), also exhibited good analgesic activity, causing 63% of reduction of abdominal constriction in mice. These results suggest beneficial effect of this plant to treat dolorous processes.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências Tecnológicas da Terra e do Mar, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, SC, Brasil.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Kuroshima
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Campos
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Yunes
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delle Monache
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cechinel Filho
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000085:Acetates; D000700:Analgesics / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006586:Hexanes; D017705:Lignans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol; D051379:Mice; D026324:Myristicaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000700:Analgesics; D005419:Flavonoids; D006586:Hexanes; D017705:Lignans; D010936:Plant Extracts; C026385:n-hexane; D000082:Acetaminophen; C007650:ethyl acetate; D001241:Aspirin; D000432:Methanol