Caracterização fitoquímica e avaliação da atividade anti-inflamatória e antinociceptiva do óleo fixo de Euterpe oleracea Mart.

Abstract

Euterpe oleracea Mart. Is a typical palm tree from the Amazon, growing spontaneously in Pará and Amapá States, appreciated for its attractive beauty and for nutritional purposes. The fruit of Euterpe oleracea, commonly known as açaí, has been demonstrated to exhibit significantly high antioxidant capacity in vitro, and, therefore, may have possible health benefits. Phytochemical studies have revealed the presence of fatty acids, anthocyanins and steroids. The aim of this work was study the fatty oil of this species (OEO) on inflammatory and hyperalgesic models in vivo, in order to detect the possible involvement of its compounds on the inflammatory and algesic responses. The following experimental models were used: writing test in mouse, rat paw edema, granulomas testing rat, vascular permeability in rat, migration test in rats and ear erythema by croton oil in mice. The oral doses of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg of OEO inhibited the number of writhes by 33,67%, 45,88% and 55,58%, respectively. The OEO produced dose-dependent effect, and the median effective dose (ED50) was 1226,8mg/kg, the OEO inhibited the inflammatory process by 29,18% on the 4 hour of the assay (edema peak) when compared to the untreated control. The daily administration of OEO for 6 days inhibited the granulomatous tissue formation in 36,66%. In the ear erythema by croton oil, the OEO, provoked the significant inhibitory effect of 37.9%. In the vascular permeability test, the OEO inhibited the vascular permeability in 54.5%. Pretreatment (60min) of rats with OEO significantly decreased neutrophil migration on carrageenan-induced peritonitis (with inhibition of 80.14%). The results suggest that OEO shows anti-inflammatory activity in both acute and chronic inflammatory processes, and analgesic activity, probably of peripheral origin.