title: Anti-inflammatory activities, triterpenoids, and diarylheptanoids of Alnus acuminata ssp. arguta.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The main use of stem bark infusions of Alnus acuminata ssp. arguta (Schlecht.) Furlow (Betulaceae) includes treatments for acute inflammation in Mexican traditional medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  n-Hexane (CHE), chloroform (CCE), and methanol (CME) extracts of the stem bark were investigated for anti-inflammatory activity and its safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anti-inflammatory effects of the orally administered CME, CCE, and CHE extracts, using carrageenan-induced rat hind paw edema model, and acute oral toxicity in mice, using Lorke's method, were determined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The column chromatographic fraction (CME-3) showed a higher anti-inflammatory activity (92.2%) (IC(50): 60.8 mg/mL) as compared with CME (76.9%); both were in the same order of magnitude as that of indomethacin, the positive control drug. Safety parameters for acute oral toxicity test showed that CME was not toxic (LD(50): >5000). Several triterpenoids (1-7) from hexane extracts and diarylheptanoids (10-14) from methanol extracts of A. acuminata ssp. arguta were isolated and characterized.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results confirm the traditional uses of A. acuminata in acute inflammatory conditions and its safety for consumption.
authors: Facultad de Química, Departamento de Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria Coyoacan, México D.F., México.
authors: María I
authors: MI
authors: Aguilar
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: Rovelo
authors: Juan G
authors: JG
authors: Verjan
authors: Oscar
authors: O
authors: Illescas
authors: Ana E
authors: AE
authors: Baeza
authors: Marcela
authors: M
authors: De La Fuente
authors: Ileana
authors: I
authors: Avila
authors: Andrés
authors: A
authors: Navarrete