PARTE UTILIZADA= Used part: Hojas.

ACCIÓN FARMACOLÓGICA= Pharmacological action: Diurético, carminativo.

COMPOSICIÓN QUÍMICA= Chemical composition: We describe here the antinociceptive action of the crude ext. (CE), the chem. isolation and characterization and preliminary pharmacol. anal. of 24-hydroxytormentic acid, isolated from the stem bark of Ocotea suaveolens. The CE given by i.p. or p.o. routes, 30 min and 1 h prior, produced significant inhibition of abdominal constrictions caused by acetic acid and also inhibited both phases of formalin-induced licking in mice. The antinociception caused by the CE, given by i.p. and p.o. routes, lasted up to 4 and 2 h, resp. When assessed in the hot-plate test, the CE was inactive. Its antinociceptive action was not assocd. with non-specific effects such as muscle relaxation or sedation. The antinociception of CE was not influenced by naloxone, L-arginine or DL-p-chloro-phenylalanine Me ester, when assessed against the formalin assay. The triterpene 24-hydroxytormentic acid, given i.p. 30 min before testing, produced significant, dose-related and equipotent antinociceptive action against both phases of formalin-induced licking in mice. These results demonstrate, for the first time, the occurrence of the triterpene 24-hydroxytormentic acid in the stem bark of Ocotea suaveolens, and show that the CE and 24-hydroxytormentic acid exhibit marked antinociception against the neurogenic and the inflammatory analgesic responses induced by formalin in mice. The mechanism by which this compd. and CE produces antinociception still remains unclear, but is unlikely to involve the activation of opioid, nitric oxide or serotonin systems or non-specific peripheral or central depressant actions.

ZONA GEOGRÁFICA= Geografical zone: Brasil, Paraguay y NE de Argentina. 

1) TOURSARKISSIAN, Martín. Plantas medicinales de Argentina : sus nombres botánicos, vulgares, usos y distribución geográfica. Buenos Aires : Hemisferio Sur,1980, p.66.

2) BEIRITH, Alessandra; Santos, et al. Study of the antinociceptive action of the ethanolic extract and the triterpene 24-hydroxytormentic acid isolated from the stem bark of Ocotea suaveolens. Planta Medica. 1999, vol.65, nº1, p.50-55.