Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of Croton celtidifolius bark

Croton celtidifolius Baill commonly known as “sangue-de-adave” is a tree found in the Atlantic Forest of south of Brazil, mainly in Santa Catarina. The bark and leaf infusions of this medicinal plant have been popularly used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In this study we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of crude extract (CE), aqueous fraction (AqF), ethyl acetate fraction (EAF), butanolic fraction (BuF) and catechin, gallocatechin and sub-fractions, 19SF, 35SF and 63SF that contained a mixture of proanthocyanidins and were derived from the EAF fraction. The CE, AqF, EAF, BuF, catechin and sub-fractions 35SF and 63SF reduced paw edema induced by carrageenan. The CE, fractions, sub-fractions and isolated compounds showed antioxidant properties in vitro, all were able to scavenge superoxide anions at a concentration of 100 μg · ml –1. The EAF, catechin and gallocatechin were most effective in the deoxyribose assay, IC50 0.69 (0.44–1.06), 0.20 (0.11–0.39), 0.55 (0.28–1.08) μg · ml –1 respectively. The CE and other fractions and sub-fractions inhibited deoxyribose degradation up to 1 μg · ml –1. In the hydrophobic system only AqF did not show lipid peroxidation inhibition. The CE, other fractions, sub-fractions and isolated compounds inhibited lipidid peroxidation only at a concentration of 100 μg · ml –1. In summary, this study demonstrates that Croton celtidifolius bark has significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity.