Abstract

MORON RODRIGUEZ, Francisco et al. Preclinical validation of fluid extracts from Croton argenteus L. . Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2006, vol.11, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1028-4796.

In Cuba , Croton argenteus L. is not known as traditional medicinal plant. It belongs to the same genus that C. lechleri , from whose trunk sangre de drago is obtained in the Amazonian countries. It has diverse ethnomedical uses to treat health problems, such as diarrhea, wounds, gastroduodenal ulcers, inflammations, pain, insect bites, and viral infections. There are studies on this species; however, no publications have been found on this plant growing in Cuba . The objective was to validate, in extracts from C. argenteus , the effects reported for the Amazonian plant. Two fluid extracts were prepared from aerial parts, without stalks, dried with ethanol 30 % and 80 %. Studies of phytochemical screening, analgesia in contortions caused by intraperitoneal acetic acid, and bowel transit with oral activated carbon were conducted in mice. The antiinflammatory effect was studied in the case of cotton-induced granuloma, indomethacin-induced gastric injury, and oral acute toxicity with the model of acute toxic lesions in rats. The administered oral doses of both extracts were 500 and 1000 mg of dry plant material /kg. According to the results, the expected pharmacological effects were not proved. The fluid extract (30 %) wasn't toxic, but preparation using ethanol 80% was. Fluids extracts of aerial parts without stalks of C. argenteus lacked activity for the evaluated pharmacological actions.

Keywords : Croton argenteus L.,; anti-inflammatory; analgesic; antiulcerative; bowel transit..