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Anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extracts of plants used in traditional medicine in Ecuador

Abstract:

Several plants used in Ecuador in the treatment of different pathologies related to the inflammation process were investigated. Carrageenan-induced paw oedema in mice was employed to analyse the anti-inflammatory activity. Orally administrated ethanolic extracts of Bonafousia sp., Croton menthodorum, Heisteria acuminata (Santo Domingo and Oriente), Marsdenia condurango and Piper lenticellosum showed anti-inflammatory activity in the acute phase. However species belonging to the genus Phytolacca do not have this activity. The results were compared with that obtained with phenylbutazone (80 mg/kg). In addition, thin-layer chromatography was used for the determination of the main active constituents of these ethanolic extracts. Bonafousia species probably contain alkaloid and saponin constituents; Marsdenia condurango contains coumarin, saponin and tannin substances; Heisteria species contain flavonoids and tannins; Phytolacca species include as main components saponins and Piper lenticellosum contains flavonoids.