Topical antiinflammatory activity and chemical composition of the epicuticular wax from the leaves of Eugenia beaurepaireana (Myrtaceae)

Abstract

In order to verify the topical antiinflammatory effect of epicuticular wax from leaves of Eugenia beaurepaireana, it was tested in mice croton oil-induced inflammation. Our findings show that topical application of Eugenia beaurepaireana epicuticular wax was significantly active in inhibiting both oedema (Inhibitory dose 50 % (ID 50) = 0.31 (0.26 - 0.39) mg.ear -1, inhibition = 79 ± 6 %) and tissue myeloperoxidase activity (indicative of polymorphonuclear leukocytes influx) (ID 50 =0.34 (0.20 - 0.41) mg.ear -1, inhibition = 77 ± 4 %) in mice ear treated with croton oil. Two main compounds were detected on epicuticular wax of E. beaurepaireana. These compounds were identified as α- and β-amyrin by flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and spectroscopic methods (IR, NMR 1H and 13C). In conclusion, the results indicate a topical antiinflammatory activity for the Eugenia specie studied and, that, at least in part, α- and β-amyrin are responsible for this activity.