Topical anti-inflammatory activity of quillaic acid from Quillaja saponaria Mol. and some derivatives.

Objectives: Quillaic acid is the major aglycone of the widely studied saponins of the Chilean indigenous tree Quillaja saponaria Mol. The industrial availability of quillaja saponins and the extensive functionalization of this triterpenoid provide unique opportunities for structural modification and pose a challenge from the standpoint of selectivity in regard to one or the other secondary alcohol group, the aldehyde, and the carboxylic acid functions. The anti-inflammatory activity of this sapogenin has not been studied previously and it has never been used to obtain potential anti-inflammatory derivatives.

Antinociceptive activity of Quillaja saponaria Mol. saponin extract, quillaic acid and derivatives in mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Quillaja saponaria bark contains a high percentage of triterpene saponins and has been used for centuries as a cleansing and analgesic agent in Chilean folk medicine.

Aim Of The Study: The topical and systemic analgesic effects of a commercial partially purified saponin extract, 3β,16α-dihydroxy-23-oxoolean-12-en-28-oic acid (quillaic acid), methyl 3β,16α-dihydroxy-23-oxoolean-12-en-28-oate and methyl 4-nor-3,16-dioxoolean-12-en-28-oate.

Materials And Methods: The samples were assessed in mice using the topical tail-flick and i.