PHARMACOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF Cecropia purpurascens BERG* * Supported by: CNPq/CAPES.
Rodrigo R. Oliveira1, Daise Lopes2, Jorge P.P. Carauta3, Eduardo Caio T. Santos4, Bartira R. Bergmann4 and Maria Auxiliadora C. Kaplan1
1Núcleo de Pesquisas de Produtos Naturais, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.
2EMBRAPA-RJ.
3FEEMA-RJ.
4Instituto de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.
The genus Cecropia comprises about 50 tree species, well distributed in South and Central Americas. In Brazil, Cecropia representatives can be found in the North (Amazon Forest), Central-Western part, as well as Southeast and South. However they are rarely found in the Northeast dry areas.
Cecropia purpurascens Berg is a tree of 6-15m high very common in the surroundings of Manaus and shows quite distinct morphological features. Cecropia species are used by native South American populations to treat several ailments. Among the therapeutic effects attributed to these plant are: diuretic, cardiotonic, astringent, anti-inflammatory, to control high blood pressure, to treat bronchitis and asthma. Some species have been used also as leishmanicide drug. Particularly this aspect has stimulated the pharmacological study of Cecropia purpurascens that has been used by the Amazon population for this purpose.
Cecropia purpurascens was collected near Manaus, AM and a botanical sample is kept at Alberto Castellanos, Herbarium FEEMA-RJ under the register number GUA43134. Leaves were submitte to successive extraction with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol. The obtained extracts were evaluated for leishmanicide activity on Leishmania amazonensis promastigote forms. The dichloromethane extract showed 90% inhibition and the biomonitored fractionation of this extract led to an acid triterpene, the ursolic acid, as the active compound.
( November 23, 1999 ) .
Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
07 Aug 2000 -
Date of issue
June 2000
