Composition, and Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of the Volatile Oil from the Fruit Peel of Garcinia brasiliensis by Felipe T. Martins* a ), Anto ˆnio C. Doriguetto a ), Thiago C. de Souza b ), Kamila R. D. de Souza b ), Marcelo H. dos Santos b ), Maria E. C. Moreira c ),and Luiz C. A. Barbosa d ) a )Laborato ´rio de Cristalografia, Departamento de Cie ˆncias Exatas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas–UNIFAL-MG,RuaGabrielMonteirodaSilva,714,Alfenas–MG,37130-000,Brazil (phone: þ 55-35-32991261; fax: þ 55-35-32991261; e-mail: felipetmartins@yahoo.com.br) b )Laborato ´riodeFitoquímicaeQuímicaMedicinal,DepartamentodeFarma ´cia,UniversidadeFederal deAlfenas–UNIFAL-MG,RuaGabrielMonteirodaSilva,714,Alfenas–MG,37130-000,Brazil c )Laborato ´riodeFitofa ´rmacos,UniversidadeJose ´ Rosa ´rioVellano–UNIFENAS,Rod.MG-179,km-0, Alfenas–MG,37130-000,Brazil d )Chemistry Department, Universidade Federal de ViÅosa, ViÅosa – MG, 36570-000, Brazil The composition of the volatile oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the fruit peel of Garcinia brasiliensis ( Mart.) Planch. et Triana was determined by GC/MS. A total of 38 components were identified,including g-muurolene(10.3%),spathulenol(8.7%), d-cadinene(8.3%),torreyol(8.0%), a- cadinol (7.0%), cadalene (6.3%), and g-cadinene (5.3%). Oxygenated sesquiterpenes (43%) were the maingroupofcompounds.Theanti-inflammatoryactivityofthevolatileoilwasevaluatedthroughthe rat-paw edema model induced by carrageenan. Inhibition of the inflammatory process was noticed 3 h after carrageenan administration. In addition, the volatile oil showed poor antioxidant activity. 1. Introduction. – The genus Garcinia or Rheedia is the largest one found in the Guttiferaefamily.Itcomprises ca.400specieswidespreadintropicalAsia,Africa,New Caledonia, Polynesia, and Brazil [1]. This genus has been used in Brazilian folk medicine, and it is known to be rich in oxygenated and prenylated phenol derivatives [2], including isoprenylated benzophenones [3]. Some of these compounds present various biological activities such as antifungal [4], anti-inflammatory [5], antitumoral [6],antioxidant[7]andHIV-inhibitoryproperties[8]. A great variety of compounds, mainly polyisoprenylated benzophenones, flavo- noids,andxanthones,havebeenisolatedfromtheGuttiferaefamily[8][9].Speciesof the genus Garcinia have proved to be a rich resource of compounds with important therapeuticproperties.However,onlyafewinvestigationshavebeenconductedsofar on the chemical composition of the volatile oils from Garcinia species [10][11]. In addition,tothebestofourknowledge,thereisnoreportontheliteratureregardingthe biological activity of the volatile-oil constituents from the genus Garcinia. In spite of the absence of investigations on the biological activity of Garcinia volatile oils, compound mixtures isolated from this genus and displaying interesting biologicalpropertieshavebeendescribedintheliterature.Forinstance,itisknownthat the fruit extract of G. gardneriana is highly active towards pathogenic bacteria; and furtherinvestigationledtotheidentificationoffoursesquiterpenesintheextract[12]. CHEMISTRY&BIODIVERSITY–Vol.5(2008) 251 # 2008 Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta AG, Zürich