Chemical composition and antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oil of Hyptis crenata Pohl ex Benth. from the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The leaf tea of Hyptis crenata has its practical use in the Brazilian Amazon for treating gastrointestinal and liver disorders, sweating induction, and as an anti-inflammatory.

Aim of the study: Evaluation of the chemical composition, acute oral toxicity, and antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the H. crenata essential oil.

Material and methods: The essential oil was hydrodistilled and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The antinociceptive action in mice was evaluated for the peripheral and central analgesic activity (abdominal contortion and hot plate tests), and the xylene-induced ear swelling was carried out for the nociception test.

Results: Oxygenated monoterpenes (53.0%) and monoterpene hydrocarbons (38.9%) predominated in the H. crenata oil, being 1,8-cineo1e (35.9%), α-pinene (20.8%), camphor (10.0%), and β-pinene (7.3%) their primary constituents. The oral oil administration in the mice did not display changes in behavior patterns or animal mortality at 300 and 2000 mg/kg doses. The control group's biochemical parameters (ALP, AST, ALT) displayed a statistical difference from the treated group, unlike the renal parameters, which showed no variation between the groups. Oil reduced the abdominal contortions at doses of 100 (79.5%) and 300 mg/kg (44.4%), while with endodontacin, the dose was 5 mg/kg (75.2%). In addition, the oil could not decrease the paw licking/biting time at doses of 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg. However, it showed a significant antinociceptive effect on the second phase in the formalin test inhibiting licking time, with a reduction of 50.8% (30 mg/kg), 63.4% (100 mg/kg), 58.0% (300 mg/kg), and morphine (4 mg/kg, 78.3%). The oil administration produced significant inhibition of ear edema at all tested doses, with a better effect produced at 30 mg/kg (64.0% inhibition).

Conclusion: The oil of Hyptis crenata, rich in 1,8-cineole, camphor, α-pinene, and β-pinene, totaling 74%, displayed low acute toxicity and significant anti-inflammatory activity, with peripheral and no central antinociceptive action. Thus, these results show an actual perspective on using H. crenata oil in developing a phytotherapeutic product.

Keywords: Antiedematogenic and anti-inflammatory activity; Essential oil composition; Hyptis crenata, Lamiaceae; Monoterpenes.