Anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic evaluation of the condiment laurel (Litsea guatemalensis Mez.) and its chemical composition

Litsea guatemalensis Mez., a native plant of Mexico and Central America, is widely used as a food condiment, in the same manner as Laurus nobilis L. In folk medicine, it is used to treat several diseases such as respiratory and gastrointestinal complaints. We report here the anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic properties of ethanolic extract and the compound 5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxy-isoflavone (3), which was isolated in addition to pinocembrin (1), and scopoletin (2). The results confirm that both the ethanolic extract and Compound 3 showed anti-inflammatory activity, by inhibiting paw oedema induced by carrageenan, and also reduced the influx of leucocytes, particularly neutrophils, to the pleural cavity and consequently anti-hyperalgesic activity, when assessed in the model of persistent pain induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation.