Chemical composition and biological activities of Pouteria campechiana (Kunth) Baehni

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activities of ethanol, de-fatted ethanol extracts and n-hexane fractions of Pouteria campechiana (Kunth) Baehni leaves and seeds. Further chemical analysis was done to isolate and identify its bioactive compounds. The seeds ethanolic extract produced 85% inhibition of inflammation in the rat paw oedema test at the dose of 100 mg/kg after 4 h (p<0.05). On the other hand, the leaves ethanolic extract (200 mg/kg) exhibited maximum analgesic activity after 90 min (p<0.05) in the hot plate test. Both leaves and seeds ethanolic extracts showed significant decreases in gastric ulcer number and severity (p<0.05). Phytochemical investigation of P. campechiana leaves and seeds yielded six compounds: protocatechuic acid (C1), gallic acid (C2), quercetin (C3), myricetin (C4), myricetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (C5) and myricetin-3-O-β-galactoside (C6). The study supports the use of P. campechiana in traditional medicine for conditions associated with inflammation, pain and peptic ulcers. Key words: Pouteria campechiana, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, gastric ulcer, flavonoids, phenolics.