Planta Med 2014; 80 - P2O43
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1395034

Antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activity of fraction containing terpenes from Croton campestris A. St.-Hil. (Euphorbiaceae)

P Monteiro 1, 2, D Vendramini-Costa 1, AL Ruiz 1, MA Foglio 1, JE Carvalho 1, 2
  • 1Chemical, Biological and Agricultural Pluridisciplinary Research Center (CPQBA), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Paulínia-SP, 13148 – 218, Brazil
  • 2Post Graduate Program in Structural and Cell Biology, Institute of Biology (IB), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas-SP, 13083 – 970, Brazil

Croton campestris A. St.-Hil. (Euphorbiaceae) has been used in folk medicine as anti-inflammatory and antitumor treatment [1]. Our aim was evaluate anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties of the fraction CFqb14 obtained from C. campestris on in vitro and in vivo experimental models respectively. C. campestris leaves were extracted with ethyl acetate and crude extract was fractionated by column chromatograph (silica gel 1:10) with gradients of polarity solvents. The antiproliferative activity was evaluated on 8 human cancer cell lines. After 48h of treatment, cell viability was determined by sulforhodamine B assay. Fraction CFqb14 was evaluated in paw edema model by inoculation of carrageenan in the right hind paw of balb/C female mice. Five groups were treated intraperitoneally with vehicle (NaCl 0.9%), indomethacin 20 mg/kg (positive control) and CFqb14 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg 30 min before carrageenan inoculation. The edema was measured 1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 24, 48, 72 and 96h after edema induction. Early inflammation phase inhibition was observed and, considering the high expression of COX-2 of NCI-H460 (lung) and relating anti-proliferative activity with selectivity mainly for that cell line (GI50= 0.21 µg/mL), the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity may be related to COX-2 inhibition and consequently reduction of prostaglandin production, a fundamental mediator of early phase of inflammation process. Fraction's composition was screened by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) via exposure to chemical reagents as cerium sulfate and Liebermann-Burchard specific for terpenes. The phytochemical reagents analysis identified terpenes as major compounds in the CFqb14, suggesting that these compounds are related to anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity observed. Further studies to identify the mechanism of action and the active principles are in progress. All protocols were approved by Committee for Ethics in Animal Research at the State University of Campinas protocol 3026 – 1.

Keywords: antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, in vivo, Croton campestris, cancer

References:

[1] Babili, F.E. et al. Fitoterapia 2006; 77: 384 – 387