Lupeol and 3β-hydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid isolated from Macphersonia gracilis (Sapindaceae) and their antiinflammatory activity in mice.

The present study focused on isolating active metabolites from Macphersonia gracilis and examining their antiinflammatory activity. Ethanolic, hexanic, ethyl acetate, and butanolic extracts were screened in vivo for acute anti-inflammatory effects at 250 mg/kg, using the carrageenan-induced paw edema test in mice. The hexane extract displayed the highest activity, and active compounds were purified from it through chromatographic procedures. Structural elucidation using UV, 1D and 2D NMR, identified the compounds as β-hydroxy-urs-12- en-28-oic acid and lupeol. These isolates were tested at 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg against carrageenan-induced acute paw edema, cotton pellet-induced subchronic inflammation, and Freund’s adjuvant-induced arthritis in mice. At 50 mg/kg, both compounds reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema by 76.00%, inhibited subchronic inflammation by 37.00%, and alleviated chronic arthritis inflammation by 67.50%.