Medicinal plants are considered very important for obtaining biologically active molecules, for discovery of new drugs and it is very important to conduct research to evaluate the effects of plants of popular use. Myrcia sylvatica (G. Mey.) DC. is a species of Myrtaceae, essential oil producer, known as “pedra-ume-caá”, used in folk medicine to treat various diseases such as diabetes, diarrhea and inflammations. Although much used in the form of teas and sold in markets and fairs as a medicinal plant, there are few studies about its pharmacological activities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacological potential of the species, evaluating the antiedematogenic and antinociceptive activities of the aqueous extract and essential oil of M. sylvatica, and to evaluate the activity of the crude aqueous extract on behavior and learning in Wistar rats. For this, the pharmacological tests (paw edema induced by carrageenan and formalin test) and behavioral tests (Y maze, Open Field, Light-dark Box, Morris Watermaze and Rota-rod) were performed. The results indicated that the aqueous extract of M. sylvatica significantly reduced the paw edema in oral doses of 90, 180 and 270 mg/kg, as well as the topical application and application by phonophoresis (maximum reduction of 66.9% of edema at dose of 270 mg/kg), showed antinociceptive effect at doses of 180 and 270 mg/kg in both phases of the formalin test (maximum inhibition of 60.2% of nociceptive response at dose of 270 mg /kg) and also had no effect on animal behavior after administration for 21 days. The essential oil of M. sylvatica showed no antiedematogenic effect on any of the doses tested (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg), but showed significant antinociceptive effect in both phases of the test at the three doses used (inhibition to 98, 8% at a dose of 50 mg/kg). Results indicate a pharmacological potential of aqueous extract and essential oil of this plant due to the observed activities, thus requiring new studies to know active compounds and possible mechanisms of action of these substances.
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