In silico and in vitro anti-inflammatory study of phenolic compounds isolated from Eucalyptus maculata resin

Abstract

Abstract Plant resins are rich in bioactive compounds with high medicinal values. However, the chemistry and anti-inflammatory activity of the resins produced by trees of the genus Eucalyptus were scarcely investigated. The inflammatory targets cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), COX-2, TNF-, NF-B, and NO were significantly inhibited by the methanolic extract of Eucalyptus maculata kino resin (EME) and its CH 2 Cl 2 soluble fraction (MCF). Sakuranetin ( C1 ), ( E )-cinnamic acid ( C2 ), kaempferol 7- methyl ether ( C3 ), 7- O -methyl aromadendrin ( C4 ), and 1,6- dicinnamoyl- O-α -D-glucopyranoside ( C5 ) were isolated from MCF. Three compounds ( C1 , C2, and C4 ) showed potent in vitro COX-1 inhibition, while C5 inhibited COX-2, TNF- α , NF-κB, and NO significantly. An in-silico study revealed that C5 had the highest binding affinity to the active site in COX-2 with binding energy score (S) of -14.85 kcal/mol, better than celecoxib (COX-2 inhibitor). In conclusion, 1,6-dicinnamoyl- O-α -D-glucopyranoside ( C5 ) could be investigated further in the search for anti-inflammatory agents.