Antinociceptive and hypothermic evaluation of the leaf essential oil and isolated terpenoids from Eugenia uniflora L. (Brazilian Pitanga).
Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae), known as Brazilian cherry tree, is a fruity tree spread all over Brazil used in popular medicine to treat inflammations, rheumatic pain and fever, as hypoglycemic, diuretic and has been widely used in the cosmetics industry. The present study discusses the chemical composition, the antinociceptive and hypothermic profile of the essential oil of pitangueira leaves. The chemical composition was evaluated by GC-MS and the main constituent of the oil was characterized, after isolation, as a mixture of atractylone (1) and 3-furanoeudesmene (2). The essential oil, its pentane fraction and the isolated mixture of sesquiterpenes (1 and 2), given orally, significantly inhibited the acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions, increased the latency time in hot plate test and showed a hypothermic effect. The results suggest that the responsible for the antinociceptive and hypothermic effect were the isolated furanosesquiterpenes. These findings provided additional pharmacological information and may contribute for the use of Brazilian cherry tree as a phytomedicine.
Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Tecnologia, Bloco A, Sala 626-A, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, 21945-970 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Ana Carolina L
AC
Amorim
Cleverton Kleiton F
CK
Lima
Ana Maria C
AM
Hovell
Ana Luisa P
AL
Miranda
Claudia M
CM
Rezende
D000700:Analgesics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects*; D001938:Brazil; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D027842:Syzygium / Q000737:chemistry*
D000700:Analgesics; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes