Abstract

Eugenia genus has shown relevant therapeutic results as a medicinal plant, and that is why this study aimed to know the chemical composition of E. involucrata leaves and its gastroprotective and antinociceptive potential. The leaves were collected at two moments, January and July of 2014. Leaves were macerated in methanol, resulting in Crude Methanol Extracts (CME), denominated CME-jan and CME-jul. The extracts were partitioned with chloroform and ethyl acetate. Phytochemical analysis was performed by conventional chromatographic techniques and the isolated substances were analyzed by usual spectrometric techniques. The major substance isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction was (-)-catechin and phytol from the chloroform fraction. Gastroprotective evaluation was performed by the ulcer model induced by ethanol, and the extract reduced significantly the total damaged area and the area of injury relative to the treatments with doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg, but the 125 mg/kg dose was more effective. In the evaluation of the antinociceptive activity, the model of writhes induced by acetic acid was used, and both extract and fractions reduced nociception (26.5 to 64.4% at 10 mg/kg). Chloroform fraction collected at July had more effect (DI50 of 2.33 mg/kg).

Key words: antinociceptive activity; Eugenia involucrata; catechin; gastroprotection; phytol