Planta Med 2012; 78 - PD73
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1320431

Chemical investigation and evaluation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activies of Copaifera langsdorffii leaf extract

RA Furtado 1, MN da Silva 2, CTV Bernardes 1, JK Bastos 1
  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil 14040.
  • 2Institut für Pharmazeutische Biologie und Phytochemie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany 48149

Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae) is found in northern and northeastern of Brazil. Aqueous ethanolic extract of C. langsdorffii was subjected to solvent-solvent partitioning followed by counter-current chromatography (HSCCC), gel filtration and HPLC, to yield quercetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside, 6'-methoxy,4''-methoxy-3,4-di-O-galloylquinic acid and 6'''-methoxy-3,4,5-tri-O-galloylquinic acid. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated using acute toxicity, open field, acetic acid-induced writhing response, hot plate, formalin, λ-carrageenan and dextran-induced paw edema and LPS-induced cell migration assays. The extract was found to be non toxic to mice and did not interfere with their normal behavior. It showed activity in writhing, formalin (2nd phase) and paw edema induced by λ-carrageenan and dextran assays. The compounds, quercetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside and kaempferol-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside were inactive in writhing assay. Kaurenol, previously isolated by our group from the aqueous ethanolic extract of leaves of C. langsdorffii, displayed activity in writhing, formalin (2nd phase) and edema paw induced by λ-carrageenan and dextran assays. These data suggest that the activity of the aqueous ethanolic extract of leaf of C. langsdorffii may be related to modulation of the inflammatory process.