title: Chemical composition, antioxidant and antinociceptive properties of Litchi chinensis leaves.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Litchi chinensis has been traditionally used in folk medicine to treat several ailments. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition, antioxidant and antinociceptive activity of L. chinensis leaves.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antioxidant capacity of the extract, fraction and compounds was evaluated using the 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays, and the liposome model with peroxyl radicals generated by 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride radical. The pharmacological models of acute nociception used in mice were: writhing test with acetic acid (AA), hotplate (HP), glutamate (GLU), capsaicin (CP) and formalin (FM) tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main compounds isolated were procyanidin A2 (PA2), procyanidin B2 (PB2) and (-)-epicatechin. The biochemical features of the crude extracts and their ethyl acetate fraction (EtOAcFR) presented high antioxidant activity, and the antioxidant activity of PA2 and PB2 was remarkably high, with DPPH and ABTS. The crude methanol extract (MeOHEXTR), EtOAcFR and PB2 were effective in reducing nociception in FM and HP models. MeOHEXTR and EtOAcFR treatments also reduced pain induced by GLU and AA. In the CP model, only EtOAcFR and PB2 were effective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate the antinociceptive and antioxidant of MeOHEXTR, EtOAcFR and PB2.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI), Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosana C L
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Castellain
authors.forename: Marluci
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gesser
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tonini
authors.forename: Rafael V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Schulte
authors.forename: Kely Z
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Demessiano
authors.forename: Fellippe R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delle-Monache
authors.forename: Daisy J A
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Netz
authors.forename: Valdir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cechinel-Filho
authors.forename: Rilton Alves
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Freitas
authors.forename: Márcia M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meyre-Silva
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000737:chemistry; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D032125:Litchi / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D013451:Sulfonic Acids / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000975:Antioxidants; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013451:Sulfonic Acids; C002502:2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
keywords: L. chinensis; antinociceptive; antioxidant activity; lipid peroxidation; phenolic compounds