Anti-inflammatory activities, triterpenoids, and diarylheptanoids of Alnus acuminata ssp. arguta.

CONTEXT

The main use of stem bark infusions of Alnus acuminata ssp. arguta (Schlecht.) Furlow (Betulaceae) includes treatments for acute inflammation in Mexican traditional medicine.

OBJECTIVE

n-Hexane (CHE), chloroform (CCE), and methanol (CME) extracts of the stem bark were investigated for anti-inflammatory activity and its safety.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The anti-inflammatory effects of the orally administered CME, CCE, and CHE extracts, using carrageenan-induced rat hind paw edema model, and acute oral toxicity in mice, using Lorke's method, were determined.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The column chromatographic fraction (CME-3) showed a higher anti-inflammatory activity (92.2%) (IC(50): 60.8 mg/mL) as compared with CME (76.9%); both were in the same order of magnitude as that of indomethacin, the positive control drug. Safety parameters for acute oral toxicity test showed that CME was not toxic (LD(50): >5000). Several triterpenoids (1-7) from hexane extracts and diarylheptanoids (10-14) from methanol extracts of A. acuminata ssp. arguta were isolated and characterized.

CONCLUSIONS

These results confirm the traditional uses of A. acuminata in acute inflammatory conditions and its safety for consumption.