Solanum corymbiflorum is commonly known as baga-de-veado and is being hailed as a topical anti-inflammatory. Its leaves are applied to inflamed arms and legs, to treat skin diseases such as scabies, tick bite, boils, mastitis, alleviate lower back pain and otitis.
A recent study found the anti-inflammatory activity was effective in vivo using just the leaves. An extract from the leaf when topically applied reduces croton oil-induced ear oedema in mice and levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity with maximum inhibition of 87% and 45% respectively when dosed at 1mg per ear. A similar experiment was found for dexamethasone treatment of 89% and 50% for the same conditions, when dosed at 0.1mg per ear. The researchers from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Federal University of Santa Maria in Brazil believe the leaves to be rich in various polyphenols measured as 195.3 mg gallic acid equivalents/g, various flavonoids such as chlorogenic acid (59.3 mg/g), rutin (12.7 mg/g), rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid and gallic acid as determined by HPLC (high pressure liquid chromatography). A standard DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) antioxidant assay demonstrated a strong antioxidant potential in the leaves which backs up the historical usage of the leaves to treat skin disorders.
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