Planta Med 1993; 59(6): 533-536
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-959755
Papers

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Essential Oil of Bupleurum fruticescens

S. Martin, E. Padilla, M. A. Ocete, J. Galvez, J. Jiménez, A. Zarzuelo
  • Departamento de Farmacologia, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain
Further Information

Publication History

1993

1993

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

Abstract

The essential oil of Bupleurum fruticescens was investigated qualitatively and quantitatively by GC and GC-MS analyses. The anti-inflammatory activity of the whole essential oil and its major components was also investigated in the rat hindpaw edema model induced by carrageenin or by PGE1. The anti-inflammatory activity shown by the essential oil can be attributed to the two major components, α-pinene and β-caryophyllene. In order to know the role of the adrenal glands in the anti-inflammatory activity exerted by the two major components of the essential oil, they were studied against the carrageenin-induced hindpaw edema in adrenolectomized rats. It is concluded that α-pinene needs the integrity of the adrenal glands to exert its anti-inflammatory activity, as opposed to β-caryophyllene which was also active in adrenolectomized animals.