Caracterização química e atividades farmacológicas de Hortia brasiliana Vand. ex DC.

Abstract

Hortia brasiliana Vand. Ex DC (Rutaceae), known as "para-tudo" or "casca-d'anta" has been used in folk medicine as blood depurative, for stomach disorders, diabetes control, to combat fevers, diarrhea, vomiting, liver disease, renal colic and has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and hypotensive activities. The present work aims to perform a chemical characterization and evaluate the pharmacological activities of the extracts of H. brasiliana. Leaves, lateral branch barks and trunk barks were collected in Muriaé and Juiz de Fora, MG, to obtain essential oils and hexane, methanolic and aqueous extracts. A sample of leaves was used to analyze morphological and anatomical. The chemical characterization of the extracts was performed by GC-MS, HPLC-UV and TLC. The antinociceptive activity was evaluated by writhing, formalin and hot plate tests, while the anti-inflammatory activity by paw edema and pleurisy methods. The data are expressed as mean± standard error and analysis of variance followed by Newman-Keuls test to measure the degree of significance (p <0.05). The assessment of morphological and anatomical leaf showed the presence of secretory cavities in various sizes and glands with outcrop. Among the components of essential oils were identified: Epi-α-cadinol, zingiberene, Z-α-trans-bergamotol, E-β-guaiene, α-bisabolol, E-hidrato de sesquisabinene, β-sesquiphellandrene, oplopanone, α-curcumene, guaiol and caryophyllene oxide, not yet reportded in this species. UV spectra indicated the presence of cinnamic acid derivatives and flavonoid. Terpenoids, fatty acids, steroids, coumarins and phenolic acids were detected by TLC. The hexane extracts showed antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory for the employed methods. The results suggest that H. brasiliana is a source of bioactive compounds with antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities, which may justify the popular use in some organ dysfunctions.