Antiinflammatory Properties of Schinus terebinthifolius and Its Use in Arthritic Conditions

Abstract Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi is a species native to South America that belongs to the Anacardiaceae family. It is popularly known as aroeirinha, aroeira-vermelha, or the Brazilian pepper tree. In folk medicine, Schinus terebinthifolius is used for several health conditions, including inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. According to chemical analyses, many secondary metabolites from this species have significant bioactivity, including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, triterpenes, fatty acids, and phenols. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disorder with a crucial inflammatory component in joints. The current treatments for RA are mostly symptomatic and have side effects, high costs, and an increased risk of malignancies. Because of these limitations, there is a growing interest in the use of natural products as therapies or adjunct therapies. Herbal products have attracted considerable attention over the past decade because of their multiple beneficial effects such as their antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antiproliferative, and immunomodulatory properties. Despite the many uses of Schinus terebinthifolius in folk medicine, there are few scientific studies supporting its antirheumatic effect. Nonetheless, Schinus terebinthifolius is a source of many bioactive compounds that are known to be responsible for its biological properties. Recently, we demonstrated that the hydroalcoholic extract from Schinus terebinthifolius leaves an important antiinflammatory property in experimental arthritis, due to a marked inhibition of neutrophil mobility and reduction of inflammatory mediators. In this chapter, we will review the effects of Schinus terebinthifolius and its main compounds on inflammation and arthritis.