title: Pharmaco-toxicological study of diterpenoids.
abstract: Azorella compacta, Azorella yareta and Laretia acaulis (Apiaceae) are native species from the high Andes Mountains, northeastern Chile, and they have being traditionally used to treat asthma, colds and bronchitis, illnesses with inflammation and pain as the main symptoms. Interestingly, there are no scientific reports available on their benefits or toxicity. This study was carried out with the purpose of validating the medicinal use of these species and to discover anti-inflammatory and analgesic new molecules. As a working hypothesis, we have proposed that these medicinal species contain bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. In this context, azorellanol, 13-hydroxy-7-oxoazorellane and 7-deacetylazorellanol, three diterpenoids previously isolated only from these plants, were subjected to farmaco-toxicological evaluation. Their topical anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities along with acute toxicities or innocuosness were also investigated. Our results indicate the absence of toxic and side effects in mice. All compounds presented dose-related inhibition of pain. 13-hydroxy-7-oxoazorellane was the most potent analgesic but it was less effective than sodium naproxen, the reference drug. Azorellanol exhibited the highest topical anti-inflammatory potency on AA (arachidonic acid) and TPA (12-deoxyphorbol 13-tetradecanoate) induced oedema, and it effect was similar to the reference drugs (nimesulide and indomethacin). Probably, its mechanism of action could be explained through the inhibition to cyclo-oxygenase activity. Our results corroborate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of these species, and it justifies their use in folk medicine.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Farmacológica y Toxicológica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, 233, 1-Santiago, Casilla, Chile. cdelpor@uchile.cl
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delporte
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Backhouse
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: San-Martín
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bórquez
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loyola
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D019661:Apiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D002677:Chile; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009288:Naproxen / Q000494:pharmacology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000494:pharmacology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004224:Diterpenes; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; D013449:Sulfonamides; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D009288:Naproxen; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; C012655:nimesulide; D007213:Indomethacin