Pharmacological activity and chemical composition of callus culture extracts from selected species of Phyllanthus

This study was conducted in order to determine the chemical composition and the possible antinociceptive effects in mice of some species of Phyllanthu s in vitro. The methanolic extracts obtained from callus cultures of P. fra ternus, P. stipulatus and P. caroliniensis caused significant inhibition in to the late phase of the formalin test, whereas the extract from P. urinar ia inhibited both neurogenic and inflammatory phases of the test. Conventio nal chromatographic methods (TLC, GC) permitted the detection of some stero ids or triterpenes, including beta -sitosterol, glochidonol and glochidone, which seem be responsible for the antinociceptive effects of the callus ex tracts studied.