Phytochemical Characterization and Biological Activity of Two Anacardiaceae Species from Guinea-Bissau

The dried leaves of <i>Lannea velutina</i> A.Rich. and <i>Sorindeia juglandifolia</i> Planch. ex Oliv. are commonly used in traditional medicine throughout West Africa to treat inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the standardized hydroethanolic (70%) extracts of these plants and to investigate the underlying mechanisms, with a focus on their antioxidant properties. The anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated using a rat model of induced paw edema, while the antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH^• radical scavenging and iron-reducing antioxidant power assays. Chemical fingerprint was achieved by LC-UV/DAD-ESI/MS and the main classes of secondary metabolites were quantified by colorimetric analysis. The results showed that <i>Sorindeia juglandifolia</i> extract significantly inhibited the increase in paw edema volume, with the maximum effect observed at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg (20.51 ± 1.07% and 35.50 ± 6.90%, respectively). For <i>L. velutina</i>, the strongest inhibition was observed at 200 and 400 mg/kg (47.48 ± 11.37% and 35.40 ± 1.70%, respectively). Both extracts also showed remarkable antioxidant activity. Phenol derivatives were identified as the main classes of secondary metabolites, with <i>L. velutina</i> containing 350.1 ± 20.6 mg GAE/g DE and <i>S. juglandifolia</i> containing 463.4 ± 29.4 mg GAE/g DE. Ten phenolic markers were identified in <i>L. velutina</i> and six in <i>S. juglandifolia</i> extracts. The main components of <i>L. velutina</i> include myricetin-3-<i>O</i>-glucuronide, quercetin-3-<i>O</i>-glucuronide, catechin, and gallic acid, while <i>S. juglandifolia</i> contains gallic acid, isoquercitrin, and ethyl gallate. These results confirm the anti-inflammatory potential of <i>L. velutina</i> and <i>S. juglandifolia</i> and highlight their prospects as candidates for the development of standardized anti-inflammatory herbal medicines based on their chemical and biological properties.