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The purpose of the present study was to investigate antitumour and anti-infl ammatory activities of fl avonoids isolated from Byrsonima crassa, Davilla elliptica and Mouriri pusa. The antitumour activity was measured by the MTT assay in murine mammary tumour cells (LM2) and the IC 50 values of the fl avonoids tested ranged from (31.5 ± 2.97) to (203.1 ± 5.9) μg/ml. The fl avonoids 1 (myricetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside) and 3 (quercetin-3-Ogalactopyranoside) from D. elliptica were the most active ones against the tumour cells. The same samples were tested to determine the inhibition of the release of nitric oxide (NO) and of the tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in murine macrophages by the Griess and ELISA sandwich assay, respectively. Almost all the samples showed inhibitory activity to the release of NO but not of TNF-α. Of all substances tested, fl avonoids 2 (quercetin) and 6 (myricetin) may show promising activity in the treatment of murine breast cancer by immunomodulatory and antiproliferative activities.

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Species of the genus Qualea are used by the Brazilian public as a natural anti-inflammatory. Based on this evidence, we evaluated the effects of terpene fractions (F and TF) obtained from Qualea multiflora on nitric oxide production (Griess assay), cytokines (IL-1, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-α) and the transcription factor NF-B by peritoneal macrophages. Since there is a relationship between inflammation and cancer, the cytotoxicity of F and TF against mammary tumoural cell lineage, and macrophages was evaluated. Inhibition levels close to 90% of the production of NO, IL-1, IL-12 and TNF-α; about 32% of NF-B; and a large stimulation of IL-10 production (close to the positive control) by peritoneal macrophages were observed in response to F and TF which are correlated with anti-inflammatory activity. Additionally, the samples showed exceptional cytotoxic activity against tumoural cells but not against macrophages. Since anti-inflammatory activity is important in tumour inhibition, further examination of potential anti-cancerous activity of Qualea multiflora is warranted.