Chemical composition, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the essential oils from male and female specimens of Baccharis punctulata (Asteraceae)

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Baccharis punctulata (Asteraceae), popularly known as “Chillka saru saru” in Bolivia, has been used by rural communities in Bustillo Province of the Potosi Department for treatment of asthma, luxations and contusions. Aim of the study To analyze the chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from leaves of female (BPF) and male (BPM) specimens and evaluate their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Material and methods Chemical composition analyses of Baccharis punctulata essential oils isolated by hidrodistillation from leaves of male and female specimens were performed by GC-FID-MS. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using the model of TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate) induced ear edema, and the polymorphonuclear cell migration was evaluated by mieloperoxidase (MPO) and analyzed histologically. To measure the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the inflamed tissue, the DCFH-DA fluorescent probe was used. The chemical in vitro antioxidant activity of essential oils was determined using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical assay. Results The chemical analysis showed high proportion of sesquiterpenes in the volatiles samples obtained from BPM, such as δ-elemene (14.29%), germacrene D (11.29%) and bicyclogermacrene (10.90%), and in the sample from BPF, bicyclogermacrene (42.44%), germacrene D (21.18%) and β-caryophyllene (14.06%). A statistical difference (p  in vitro antioxidant properties, respectively. Conclusions This study presents, for the first time, the chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from leaves of male and female specimens of Baccharis punctulata , and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The results presented by the volatile samples in our biotests support traditional uses of this plant species.