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Planta Med 2005; 71(9): 825-828
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-871293
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Chemical Composition and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of the Volatile Fractions from the Bark of Eight Mexican Bursera Species

Beatriz Zúñiga1 , Patricia Guevara-Fefer1 , Josefina Herrera1 , José Luis Contreras2 , Luis Velasco3 , Francisco Javier Pérez3 , Baldomero Esquivel3
  • 1Laboratorio de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México
  • 2Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México
  • 3Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México
Further Information

Publication History

Received: November 2, 2004

Accepted: April 22, 2005

Publication Date:
19 August 2005 (online)

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Abstract

The volatile fractions from the bark of eight species of Mexican Bursera were obtained using steam distillation and were subjected to tandem GC-MS analysis for identification of the main constituents. The most abundant components of steam volatiles were monoterpenoids from which α-terpineol, terpinen-4-ol, α-thujene, linalool and limonene were most frequently isolated. A series of sesquiterpenes and long-chain hydrocarbons were isolated and identified from the barks of some of the studied species. Some volatiles were assayed for anti-inflammatory activity using the TPA-induced ear edema bioassay in mice. The volatile fraction from Bursera lancifolia was about half as active as indomethacin.

Key words

Bursera - volatiles - GC-MS - monoterpenes - sesquiterpenes - hydrocarbons - anti-inflammatory activity

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Prof. Baldomero Esquivel

Instituto de Química de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Circuito Exterior de Cd. Universitaria

Coyoacán 04510

México

Phone: +52-55-5622-4448

Fax: +52-55-5616-2217

Email: baldo@servidor.unam.mx