Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive potential of Ternstroemia sylvatica Schltdl. & Cham

Abstract Objective To evaluate the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant and acute toxicity of extracts obtained from a successive extraction with solvents of ascending polarity [hexane, hex; chloroform, CHCl 3 and ethanol (EtOH)] of Ternstroemia sylvatica Schltdl. & Cham. Methods The antioxidant potential was evaluated by 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, the ferric reducing/antioxidant power assays and by determining the total phenolic content. The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects were evaluated using the in vivo croton oil-induced ear edema, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induced ear edema, carrageenan-induced paw edema, acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin murine models. The acute toxicity was tested using the Lorke's method in mice. Results The EtOH extract was the most active for the antioxidant potential tests diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (68.70% inhibition), ferric reducing/antioxidant power [(2 431.30 ± 102.10) mmol Fe 2+ and total polyphenols content (215.80 ± 8.50) meqAG/g]. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by topical application of croton oil (2 mg/ear dose) where the EtOH extract showed the strongest activity compared to the control group (45.13% inhibition), whereas in the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate model, at the same dose, the CHCl 3 extract showed the highest inhibition (42.88%). In the carrageenan induced edema model, the EtOH extract showed a stronger inhibition compared to indomethacin (56.34% and 50.70% at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg of extract, respectively) during the first hour. Similarly, the same extract showed the highest analgesic activity (30.60% inhibition) in the acetic acid contortion assay, and in the formalin test it showed a greater effect with respect to the control group in both phases. Conclusions Our work confirms the value of Ternstroemia sylvatica as an important anti-inflammatory and analgesic plant, whose mechanism seems to be associated to its antioxidant effects, and supports its uses in the Mexican traditional medicine.