In vivo anti-inflammatory action evaluation of protease inhibitors from Cecropia hololeuca and their protein profile by electrophoretic and spectroscopic techniques

•The protein extract significantly inhibited the levels of inflammatory mediators without causing toxicity to cells.•The protein extract reduced the formation of paw edema in animals.•The analysis by SDS-PAGE, CE-UV, FT-IR and NMR corroborated the presence of proteins in the analyzed samples.•Results showed promising in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the protease inhibitors from Cecropia hololeuca.