Topical Anti-inflammatory Activity of a Medicinal Plant Spondias mombin L.

The objective of this chapter is to describe the identification of ellagic acid and the topical anti-inflammatory activity of Spondias mombin L. stem in experimental models. This species is a tree extensively used in herbal medicine worldwide. The juice and leaf powder are traditionally used topically for healing and anti-inflammatory activity. Spondias mombin L. was collected at the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador city, Bahia State, Brazil. From the dried stem, powdered bark and wood were separately subjected to ethanol extraction by static maceration to obtain the EESB (bark) and EESW (wood) extracts. These extracts were analyzed by TLC and HPLC-DAD-UV. The topical anti-inflammatory action was carried out using extracts (EESB and EESW - 0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg/ear), gel formulations (GEESB and GEESW - 1, 3, and 5%), and ellagic acid (EA - 1 mg/ear). Nitric oxide (NO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), and histopathological analyses were evaluated. The ability of S. mombin extracts and gel formulations to reduce the effect of Croton oil shows an inhibitory potential on oxidative stress that prevents the generation of ROS and allows the suppression of inflammation of the skin and the proliferation of epidermal tissue. EA was identified in EESB and EESW as the main compound. After 6 h of treatment, EESB (53.83 to 63.06%), GEESB (41.45 to 43.48%), EESW (37.51 to 49.30%), GEESW (45.02 to 50.70%), and EA (58.59%) inhibited the ear thickness. In 24 h, the ear thickness was reduced by EESB (56.22 to 58.01%), GEESB (44.79 to 60.67%), EESW (44.11 to 62.69%), GEESW (49.38 to 62.88%) and EA (62.90%). In this time, ear weight, MPO, NAG, NO, leukocyte migration and vasodilation were decreased. These findings validate the traditional applications of S. mombin stem and may offer an alternative for the treatment of cutaneous inflammation by indicating that it exhibits topical anti-inflammatory effect. The gel formulations of EESB and EESW can constitute a phytotherapeutic application and represent an alternative for the treatment of inflammatory skin disorders.