title: Anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of Bursera copallifera.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The plant species Bursera copallifera (DC) bullock is used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation. The leaves of this plant can be prepared as an infusion to treat migraines, bronchitis, and dental pain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of organic extracts from the stems, stem bark, and leaves of B. copallifera, which was selected based on the knowledge of its traditional use.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the ability of extracts to inhibit mouse ear inflammation in response to topical application of 12-O tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate. The extracts with anti-inflammatory activity were evaluated for their inhibition of pro-inflammatory enzymes. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxic activities of the organic extracts were evaluated using the sulforhodamine B assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The hydroalcoholic extract of the stems (HAS) exhibited an anti-inflammatory activity of 54.3% (0.5 mg/ear), whereas the anti-inflammatory activity of the dichloromethane-methanol extract from the leaves (DMeL) was 55.4% at a dose of 0.1 mg/ear. Methanol extract from the leaves (MeL) showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 = 4.4 μg/mL), hydroalcoholic extract of leaves, and DMeL also reduce the enzyme activity, (IC50 = 6.5 μg/mL, IC50 = 5.7 μg/mL), respectively, from stems HAS exhibit activity at the evaluated concentrations (IC50 =6.4 μg/mL). The hydroalcoholic extract of the stems exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity against a breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF7, IC50 = 0.90 μg/mL), whereas DMeL exhibited an IC50 value of 19.9 μg/mL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, extracts from leaves and stems inhibited cyclooxygenase-1, which is the target enzyme for nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs, and some of these extracts demonstrated substantial antiproliferative effects against the MCF7 cell line. These results validate the traditional use of B. copallifera.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Productos Naturales y Farmacognosia, Facultad de Farmacia, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: M F María C
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Columba-Palomares
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigación en Plantas Medicinales, Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad No. 1001 Col Chamilpa, C.P. 62209 Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: Dra María L
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Villareal
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigación en Plantas Medicinales, Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad No. 1001 Col Chamilpa, C.P. 62209 Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: M C Macdiel E
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Acevedo Quiroz
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Productos Naturales, Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: M C Silvia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marquina Bahena
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Productos Naturales, Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: Dra Laura P
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Álvarez Berber
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Productos Naturales y Farmacognosia, Facultad de Farmacia, Morelos, Mexico.
authors.forename: Dra Verónica
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-López
keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Bursera copallifera; cyclooxygenase-2; cytotoxic; phospholipase A2; traditional medicine