Toxicological analysis and anti-inflammatory effects of essential oil from Piper vicosanum leaves

Abstract

This study assessed the anti-inflammatory effects of the essential oil from Piper vicosanum leaves (OPV) and evaluated the toxicological potential of this oil through acute toxicity, genotoxicity and mutagenicity tests. The acute toxicity of OPV was evaluated following oral administration to female rats at a single dose of 2 g/kg b.w. To evaluate the genotoxic and mutagenic potential, male mice were divided into five groups: I: negative control; II: positive control; III: 500 mg/kg of OPV; IV: 1000 mg/kg of OPV; V: 2000 mg/kg of OPV. The anti-inflammatory activity of OPV was evaluated in carrageenan-induced pleurisy and paw edema models in rats. No signs of acute toxicity were observed, indicating that the LD50 of this oil is greater than 2000 mg/kg. In the comet assay, OPV did not increase the frequency or rate of DNA damage in groups treated with any of the doses assessed compared to that in the negative control group. In the micronucleus test, the animals treated did not exhibit any cytotoxic or genotoxic changes in peripheral blood erythrocytes. OPV (100 and 300 mg/kg) significantly reduced edema formation and inhibited leukocyte migration analyzed in the carrageenan-induced edema and pleurisy models. These results show that OPV has anti-inflammatory potential without causing acute toxicity or genotoxicity.

Evaluation of Chemical Composition and Antileishmanial and Antituberculosis Activities of Essential Oils of Piper Species

“…A total of 25 compounds were identified, and the results showed that these species are also rich in sesquiterpenes [24]. Analysis of the essential oil composition of the leaves of Piper vicosanum , with an extraction time of 4 h, identified the sesquiterpenes γ-elemene (14.16%) and α-alaskene (13.44%) and the monoterpene limonene (10.09%) as the majority substances [25]. The α-alaskene substance was not found in any of the nine species analyzed in the present study.…”

Essential Oils from Neotropical Piper Species and Their Biological Activities

“…Anti-inflammatory activity was detected by inhibition of leukocyte migration (100, 300, 700 mg/kg) and the protein extravasation into the pleural exudates (700 mg/kg) with no clinical signs of toxicity [ 88 ]. P. vicosanum EO minimized edema formation and inhibited leukocyte migration using the carrageenan-induced edema and pleurisy models at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg [ 89 ]. The oil displayed a pronounced anti-inflammatory potential, with no acute toxicity or genotoxicity; its main compounds were γ-elemene (14.2%), α-alaskene (13.4%) and limonene (9.1%).…”

“… Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state, Brazil Aerial parts (HD) α-Pinene (7.2%), 1,8-cineole (15.0%), limonene (40.0%), terpinolene (10.1%) --- [ 153 ] P. vicosanum Yunck. Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil Leaf (HD) Limonene (9.1%), γ-elemene (14.2%), α-alaskene (13.4%) Anti-inflammatory (rat paw edema, 100–300 mg/kg) [ 89 ] P. vitaceum Yunck. Manaus-Caracaraí, Amazonas, Brazil Aerial parts (HD) p -Cymene (12.8%), limonene (33.2%), ( E )-nerolidol (20.6%), caryophyllene oxide (5.2%) --- [ 129 ] P. xylosteoides (Kunth) Steud.…”

Anti-inflammatory effects of essential oils from Mangifera indica

“…Therefore, it is necessary to develop more effective and less toxic agents (Hoff Brait et al, 2015). The identification of compounds capable of interacting with molecular targets responsible for the amplification of inflammatory processes is a very interesting field of research.…”