The decoction of Salvia lachnostachys Benth. leaves is used in Brazilian folk medicine for anti-spasmodic, antipyretic, and anxiolytic purposes. Some of the biological effects of an S. lachnostachys extract have been shown to be anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antidepressant effects. In addition, this medicinal plant produces several compounds including icetexane diterpenoids, such as fruticuline A and fruticuline B. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the anti-hyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of fruticuline B (FRUT B) and the ethanolic extract obtained from the leaves of S. lachnostachys (EESL) in experimental mouse models. EESL (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg) and FRUT B (1 mg/kg) were evaluated in articular inflammation-induced models in Swiss mice. In articular inflammation induced by Zymosan, EESL (300 mg/kg) and FRUT B (1 mg/kg) significantly reduced mechanical hyperalgesia (83.17% inhibition for EESL and 81.19% for FRUT B); edema (68.75% reduction for EESL and 33.66% for FRUT B); leukocyte migration (81.3% for EESSL and 92.2% for FRUT B), and nitric oxide production (88.3% for EESL and 74.4% for FRUT B). The exposure to fruticuline B significantly inhibited the edema (51.5%), mechanical (88.12%) and cold hyperalgesia (80.8%), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) (63.4%) activity 24 h after CFA injection. In the pleurisy model, FRUT B reduced 89.1% of leukocyte migration and 50.3% in nitric oxide production. Four hours after carrageenan injection, FRUT B (1 mg/kg) diminished 89.11% of mechanical hyperalgesia, 65.8% of paw edema, and 82.12% of the response to cold hyperalgesia. In the MTT test, EESL and fruticuline B caused no cytotoxicity. The present study revealed, for the first time, the anti-arthritic and anti-nociceptive effects of FRUT B, pointing out the therapeutic potential of the species to control inflammation and nociception. Future studies are needed to evaluate other biological properties of fruticuline B and to better understand its mechanism of action.

Chromatographic fractionation of dichloromethane (EDSM) and ethanol (EESM) extracts of Salvia melissiflora Benth. aerial parts led to the identification of five known compounds through analyses of NMR data (1D and 2D), and comparison with literature data: oleanolic acid (1), ursolic acid (2), ent-(5R,9R)-15,16-epoxy-10S-hydroxycerodan-3,13(16),14-triene-17,12S;18,19-diolide (melissiflorine, 3), 7-epi-salvianduline A (4) and rosmarinic acid (5). The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity of EESM and EDSM were evaluated in mice. The oral administration of EESM reduced the second phase of formalin-induced nociception, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hyperalgesia and the carrageenan-induced edema in mice. The oral administration of EDSM also reduced LPS-induced hyperalgesia without altering motor performance of the animals. The anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects are probably related to the presence of compounds 5 and 1, and 2, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated using the ORAC method. The EESM extract showed activity (TE relative: 2845.2 µmol TE g^− 1), which can be attributed to the major presence, in this extract, of compound 5, which showed an antioxidant capacity comparable to that of caffeic acid.