Anti-inflammatory activity and chemical composition of Croton ciliatoglandulifer

Croton is a large genus of the Euphorbiaceae family, comprising approximately 1300 species of trees, shrubs and herbs distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions [1]. Many species of this genus have been used in traditional medicine and have pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, anti-HIV, antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory [2]. Previous phytochemical studies of species of this genus have shown that terpenoids are the main compounds responsible for biological activities. C. ciliatoglandulifer Ortega “sangre de drago” is a wild Mexican plant commonly used as insect repellent and to treat some diseases [3]. The aim of this work was to study the anti-inflammatory effect of C. ciliatoglandulifer and determine its chemical composition. We evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of the hydroalcoholic extract using the model of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) induced mouse ear edema. Doses of 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/ear were evaluated, showing inflammation inhibition of 9.9, 79.8, and 6.06% respectively (Graph 1). At dose of 0.5 mg/ear extract exhibited the same anti-inflammatory effect as positive control indomethacin (6.42%-0.25 mg/ear, 86.52%-0.5 mg/ear, 94.13%-1 mg/ear). Six compounds were identified from this extract: squalene (1), β-amyrin (2), kaurenoic acid (3), E,Z,Z,Z,Z,Z,E,E,E-decaprenol (4), _L-quebrachitol (5), and 5,7-dihydroxy-3,3',4-trimethoxyflavone (6). Compounds 1-3 and 5 have been previously identified in other species and exhibit anti-inflammatory activity [4 – 6]. Thereby it can be established that compounds 1-3 and 5 are most likely responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect of C. ciliatoglandulier.

Acknowledgements: CONACyT (Grant number 241044) financed this work.

Keywords: Anti-inflammatory, Croton ciliatoglandulifer, terpenoids.

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