Eugenia pyriformis Cambess., popularly known as uvaia, is a native Brazilian species belonging to the Myrtaceae family that has attracted pharmacological interest due to its richness in bioactive secondary metabolites. Previous studies have reported antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil obtained from its leaves, reinforcing its therapeutic potential. In this context, the present study aimed to extract and characterize the essential oil from E. pyriformis leaves cultivated in the mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and to evaluate its anti-inflammatory potential through in vitro and in vivo models. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis revealed a predominance of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, mainly γ-muurolene, δ-cadinene, and β-caryophyllene. The oil exhibited significant anti-edematogenic activity in carrageenan-, prostaglandin E₂-, and bradykinin-induced paw edema models in adult female Swiss mice, suggesting modulation of inflammatory mediators, possibly through inhibition of the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway. Conversely, no effect was observed in the compound 48/80-induced model, indicating the absence of activity on histamine- and serotonin-mediated processes. In vitro assays demonstrated that the oil reduced TNF-α and IL-1β gene expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages, confirming its ability to modulate pro-inflammatory cytokines. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the essential oil of E. pyriformis exerts anti-inflammatory activity through multiple targets.

Address for correspondence Larissa Saviani Ribeiro (larissasaviani@id.uff.br) Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. In Brazil, cervical cancer ranks third among women, with approximately 17,010 new cases expected annually in the 2023–2025 period. The high mortality associated with multidrug resistance emphasizes the urgent need for safer and more effective treatments. Natural products have become important sources of antitumor agents, particularly flavonoids, which modulate key signaling pathways involved in tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and apoptosis. Campomanesia xanthocarpa O. Berg (gabiroba), a member of the Myrtaceae family, is poorly studied despite known antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study evaluates the antiproliferative activity of its fruit ethanolic extract on the HeLa cervical cancer cell line to identify potential bioactive compounds. Fruits were collected locally in Brazil. Six hundred grams of fresh fruits were macerated in two liters of 70% ethanol. Cytotoxicity was assessed by the MTT assay on HeLa (tumor) and NIH-3T3 (non-tumor) cell lines after 48 hours. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) — the concentration needed to reduce cell viability by 50% — was calculated in micrograms per milliliter from dose-response curves. The selectivity index (SI) was determined by dividing the IC₅₀ of NIH-3T3 cells by that of HeLa cells. Flavonoid content was measured using a colorimetric assay and expressed as micrograms of quercetin equivalents (QE) per milligram of dry extract. The extract decreased HeLa cell viability (IC₅₀ = 18.33 µg/mL) and was less toxic to NIH-3T3 cells (IC₅₀ = 37.32 µg/mL), resulting in an SI of 2.036. The positive control, doxorubicin, showed IC₅₀ values of 1.3 µg/mL (HeLa) and 2.2 µg/mL (NIH-3T3), with an SI of 1.692. Phytochemical analysis indicated a flavonoid content of 7.3 µg quercetin equivalents (QE)/mg. In conclusion, the ethanolic extract of Campomanesia xanthocarpa fruit shows selective antiproliferative effects by significantly reducing cervical cancer cell viability while causing lower toxicity to non-tumor cells. Its favorable selectivity index compared to doxorubicin and its flavonoid content suggest promising potential as a source of bioactive compounds for developing cervical cancer therapies. Article published online: 26 June 2026 © 2026. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda. Rua Rego Freitas, 175, loja 1, República, São Paulo, SP, CEP 01220-010, Brazil

Background: Eugenia involucrata DC. is a Brazilian native species of the Myrtaceae family traditionally used in folk medicine and known for its antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. However, its anti-inflammatory potential remains poorly investigated. Methods: This study characterized the essential oil from E. involucrata leaves and evaluated its anti-inflammatory activity using in vitro and in vivo models. The chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and in murine paw edema models induced by carrageenan, compound 48/80, bradykinin, and prostaglandin E₂. Results: GC–MS analysis identified 23 compounds, representing 91.41% of the oil composition, with predominance of oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The major constituents were globulol (15.71%), α-selinene (13.14%), selin-11-en-4-α-ol (8.31%), cubeban-11-ol (8.04%), and β-elemene (6.78%). The essential oil showed no significant cytotoxicity below 100 micrograms/mL toward RAW 264.7 macrophages and significantly reduced LPS-induced TNF-α and IL-1β gene expression. In vivo, it markedly inhibited paw edema induced by carrageenan, compound 48/80, and bradykinin, but not by prostaglandin E₂. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that E. involucrata essential oil possesses significant anti-inflammatory and anti-edematogenic activity, likely through modulation of early inflammatory mediators involved in acute inflammation.