In-vivo ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF A TOPICAL FORMULATION WITH ACTIVE PRINCIPLES ON ESSENTIAL OILS OF Cannabis sativa L. (CANNABIS) AND Baccharis latifolia (RUIZ & PAV) PER. (CHILCA)

Essential oils of Cannabis sativa (cannabis) and Baccharis latifolia (chilca), were used as anti-inflammatory ingredients in an ointment for topical application. Different formulations designed based on these two essential oils were evaluated in-vivo to measure efficacy, using the feet swelling induction method in rats, and an over-the-counter formulation with 1% diclofenac active ingredient was used as a positive control. The chemical evaluation of the two oils yielded the following main components, for chilca oil: liguloxide 14.02%, andro encecalinol 9.84%, kesane 7.53%, limonene 5.6% and Z-cadin-4-en-7-ol with 5.03%; while for cannabis essential oil: E-caryophillene 27.91%, myrcene 21.19%, a-pinene 8.05%, a-humulene 8.03%, limonene 7.18%, terpinolene 7.12% and b-pinene 4.68%. The results of the research indicate that those formulas that combined two essential oils in the formulation at 1%, are the ones with the highest anti-inflammatory activity. Statistically, the significance is high in relation to the positive control in those whose oil composition is essential oil of cannabis 75% and chilca oil 25%; and essential oil of cannabis 50% and chilca oil 50%. The other formulas have activity, but this is similar to the commercial formula used as control. Based on the results, it is possible to propose both natural products as anti-inflammatories, and to foresee the design and commercialization of topical pharmaceutical drugs using these two essential oils.