To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of the methanol extract from the bark of C. urucurana (MECu) in mice and identify its chemical constituents.
The extract was characterized by UHPLC-DAD-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS. Extract doses of 25, 100, and 400 mg/kg were employed in the biological assays. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity was based on paw edema and leukocyte recruitment into the peritoneal cavity of mice, both induced by carrageenan. Abdominal writhing caused by acetic acid and duration of formalin-induced paw-licking were the models employed to evaluate antinociceptive activity.
Ten compounds were identified in the extract: (+)-gallocatechin (boldFont">1), procyanidin B3 (boldFont">2), (+)-catechin (boldFont">3), (−)-epicatechin (boldFont">4), tembetarine (boldFont">5), magnoflorine (boldFont">6), taspine (boldFont">7), methyl-3-oxo-12-epi-barbascoate (boldFont">8), methyl-12-epi-barbascoate (boldFont">9), and hardwickiic acid (boldFont">10). This is the first report of compounds boldFont">2, boldFont">4, boldFont">6, boldFont">7, and boldFont">10 in C. urucurana and compound boldFont">5 in the genus Croton. In addition to inhibiting paw edema and leukocyte recruitment (particularly of polymorphonuclear cells) into the peritoneal cavity of mice, MECu reduced the number of abdominal writhings induced by acetic acid and the duration of formalin-induced paw licking.
The methanol extract of C. urucurana bark exhibited anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties, corroborating its use in folk medicine. These effects may be related to the presence of diterpenes, alkaloids, and flavonoids.