In vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of ursolic acid and oleanoic acid from Miconia albicans (Melastomataceae).
The aim of this work was to use in vivo models to evaluate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of ursolic acid (UA) and oleanoic acid (OA), the major compounds isolated as an isomeric mixture from the crude methylene chloride extract of Miconia albicans aerial parts in an attempt to clarify if these compounds are responsible for the analgesic properties displayed by this plant. Ursolic acid inhibited abdominal constriction in a dose-dependent manner, and the result obtained at a content of 40 mg kg(-1) was similar to that produced by administration of acetylsalicylic acid at a content of 100 mg kg(-1). Both acids reduced the number of paw licks in the second phase of the formalin test, and both of them displayed a significant anti-inflammatory effect at a content of 40 mg kg(-1). It is noteworthy that the administration of the isolated mixture, containing 65% ursolic acid/35% oleanolic acid, did not display significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. On the basis of the obtained results, considering that the mixture of UA and OA was poorly active, it is suggested that other compounds, rather than UA and OA, should be responsible for the evaluated activities in the crude extract, since the crude extract samples displayed good activities.
Vasconcelos
Maria Anita L
MA
Universidade de Franca, Av. Dr. Armando Salles de Oliveira, 201 Parque Universitário, Franca-SP, Brazil.
Royo
Vanessa A
VA
Ferreira
Daniele S
DS
Crotti
Antonio E Miller
AE
Andrade e Silva
Márcio L
ML
Carvalho
José Carlos T
JC
Bastos
Jairo Kenupp
JK
Cunha
Wilson R
WR
D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil; D002351:Carrageenan; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control; D004487:Edema / Q000517:prevention & control; D035322:Melastomataceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D002351:Carrageenan; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D014315:Triterpenes; D000097245:Ursolic Acid