First Insights into the Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Colliguaja odorifera Molina Leaf Extracts and Their Isolated Phenolic Compounds

Despite the ethnobotanical significance of Chilean <i>Colliguaja</i> species, research on their biological activities and phytochemical composition remains limited. Among these species, <i>Colliguaja odorifera</i> Molina (Euphorbiaceae), traditionally used in folk medicine to alleviate toothaches, stands out for its potential for medicinal applications. This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of the <i>C. odorifera</i> leaf extracts and their secondary metabolites isolated from the most active extract. A hydroalcoholic extract of <i>C. odorifera</i> leaves was prepared, and subsequently ethyl acetate (EA-E), <i>n</i>-butanol (B-E), and water (W-E) extracts were obtained by liquid-liquid partition. The extracts were first evaluated for their ability to inhibit lipoxygenase, and the most active extract was subsequently tested for hyaluronidase (HA) and secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA₂). The most active extract was EA-E, with IC₅₀ values of 11.75, 31.09, and 6.60 µg/mL for anti-LOX activity, hyaluronidase, and sPLA₂, respectively. This extract was analyzed by chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, allowing the identification, for the first time, of shikimic acid, gallic acid, methyl gallate, ethyl gallate, and a putative galloyl-luteolin. These results suggest that <i>C. odorifera</i> is a promising candidate for the development of natural alternatives to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.