Romanian Society of Pharmaceutical Sciences
 

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THE POLYPHENOLIC PROFILE, DIURETIC, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, AND ANALGESIC EFFECTS OF THE RESIN FROM BETULA PENDULA ROTH. BUDS

GEORGETA BALICA 1, OLIVIU VOŞTINARU 2*, ANA-MARIA VLASE 1, MIRCEA TĂMAŞ 1, CRISTINA ŞTEFĂNESCU 1, GIANINA CRIŞAN 1, ANAMARIA APAN 2, CRISTINA MOGOŞAN 2, LAURIAN VLASE ³

¹ Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2 Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Physiopathology, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
3 Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

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This study investigated the polyphenolic profile, as well as the diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities of the resin secreted by the buds of Romanian Betula pendula Roth. (silver birch). LC-MS/MS analysis revealed the predominance of ellagic acid (109.761 μg/100 mg), accompanied by three major flavonoids: hyperoside (88.596 µg/100 mg), acacetin (52.516 µg/100 mg), and genkwanin (48.132 µg/100 mg). The resin produced a moderate and gradually installed diuretic effect with an increased urinary excretion of Na+ and K+ ions, in saline loaded Wistar rats. Although inferior to furosemide, the diuretic effect of the resin was significant during the final phase of the 24-hour monitoring period, with a urine output of 6.20  0.25 mL. Additionally, the resin demonstrated a significant and dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect in λ-carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model, the effect being slightly inferior to diclofenac. Also, the resin (500 mg/kg) produced a moderate analgesic effect in Randall-Selitto test in rats, with a maximum tolerated amount of pressure of 51 g compared to 70 g for diclofenac. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of resinous buds of silver birch.