title: Chemical, biological, morphoanatomical and antimicrobial study of Ocotea puchury-major Mart.
abstract: Ocotea puchury-major Mart. is a tree native to the Brazilian rain forest, where it is popularly known as puxurì. In local folk medicine the leaves are used for their sedative, gastroenteric and antireumatic properties. The morphoanatomical study determined those features useful in distinguishing this species from other closely related taxa. Chemical analysis was focused on the study of the volatile oil. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses indicated safrol as the main compound of the volatile oil (39%). The results confirm and authenticate the use of its leaves in folk medicine. Furthermore, safrol is economically important as the starting material for hemisynthesis of several products. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was studied which showed promising activity against environmental microorganisms as well as anti-inflammatory activity.
authors.affiliation: a Dip. di Biologia Ambientale , University of Rome "Sapienza" , P.le A. Moro 5, I-0185 Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Lucia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Leporatti
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pintore
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foddai
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chessa
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piana
authors.forename: Giacomo Luigi
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Petretto
authors.forename: Maria Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Masia
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mangano
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D027444:Ocotea / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D012451:Safrole / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; D012451:Safrole