title: The inhibition of paw oedema formation caused by the oil of Copaifera multijuga Hayne and its fractions.
abstract: Two oils exuded from a Copaifera multijuga Hayne tree (Leguminosae-Caesalpinoideae), collected from the same plant, but in different periods of the year, and the hexanic, dichloromethanic and methanolic fractions of one of these oils were analysed by high-resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) and HRGC coupled with mass spectrometry (HRGC-MS). In addition, the in-vivo preliminary anti-oedematogenic actions of the oil and some fractions of it were assessed against carrageenan- and bradykinin-induced oedema formation in the rat paw. Twenty-seven sesquiterpenes and six diterpenes were identified, beta-caryophyllene, alpha-copaene and copalic acid being the main components. The dichloromethanic and methanolic fractions obtained from C. multijuga oil given by the intraperitoneal route caused a significant inhibition of paw oedema caused by carrageenan with inhibition of 49 +/- 13% and 64 +/- 9 %, respectively. Likewise, dexamethasone (the positive control drug) also greatly inhibited carrageenan-induced paw oedema formation (60 +/- 4% at 2 h). The hexanic fraction also significantly inhibited (50 +/- 6%) the paw oedema formation caused by bradykinin. These results suggest the presence of still non-identified active terpene compounds in the oil of C. multijuga that exhibit anti-oedematogenic properties. Of note, the yield of these compounds and the pharmacological actions of the oil, exhibited great seasonal variations, a relevant aspect that should be carefully observed for the correct medicinal use of this plant by the population.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, 69077-000, Manaus, AM, Brazil. valdirveiga@ufam.edu.br
authors.forename: Valdir F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Veiga Junior
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zunino
authors.forename: Maria Lúcia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Patitucci
authors.forename: Angelo C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: João B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Calixto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007887:Fabaceae; D006614:Hindlimb; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D010938:Plant Oils