Bioassay-guided isolation of anti-inflammatory C-glucosylflavones from Passiflora edulis.

Passiflora edulis, commonly known as "maracujá", is widely cultivated in Brazil for the industrial production of juice. The species of Passiflora are popularly used as a sedative or tranquillizer, and also against intermittent fever and skin inflammation. In this study we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of four sub-fractions and three isolated compounds from the butanolic fraction of P. edulis var. flavicarpa leaves, using the mouse model of pleurisy induced by carrageenan. The butanolic fraction obtained from an aqueous extract of P. edulis (50 and 100 mg/kg, I. P.) showed anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting leukocytes and neutrophils (p < 0.01). Sub-fraction C showed itself to be more effective than the other sub-fractions (p < 0.01). Isoorientin ( 1), vicenin-2 ( 2) and spinosin ( 3) were isolated from the active sub-fraction C derived from the butanolic fraction. The sub-fraction C (50 mg/kg, I. P.), as well as its major isolated compounds (25 mg/kg, I. P.), inhibited leukocytes and neutrophils (p < 0.05). Additionally, the butanolic fraction and isoorientin also inhibited myeloperoxidase activity (p < 0.05). The present study showed that the C-glucosylflavones isolated from P. edulis leaves can be responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect of P. edulis on the mouse model of pleurisy.

The anti-inflammatory modulatory role of Solidago chilensis Meyen in the murine model of the air pouch.

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory efficacy of an aqueous extract (AE), and its butanolic (BuOH) and aqueous residual (AR) fractions, derived from the rhizome of Solidago chilensis in inflammation caused by carrageenan in mice. Solidago chilensis Meyen rhizome was extracted using hot water at 90 degrees C under infusion. The extract was filtered and lyophilized. Part of the aqueous extract was fractionated with n-BuOH, resulting in butanolic (BuOH) and aqueous residual (AR) fractions. Adult Swiss mice were used in the in-vivo experiments. We evaluated the effect of rhizome aqueous extract of Solidago chilensis and these two derived fractions on the inflammation induced by carrageenan in the mouse model of the air pouch. The aqueous extract and its derived fractions significantly inhibited leucocytes, neutrophils, exudation, myeloperoxidase and adenosine deaminase activity, as well as nitric oxide, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), neutrophil chemokine (KC) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels (P < 0.05). Indometacin and dexamethasone inhibited all the studied inflammatory parameters (P < 0.01) with the exceptions that indometacin did not inhibit TNF-alpha levels and dexamethasone did not inhibit KC levels (P > 0.05). These results indicate that Solidago chilensis has a significant anti-inflammatory action on acute inflammatory responses and that its inhibitory activity may be due not only to the inhibition of proinflammatory mediators, but also to the inhibition of leucocyte infiltration.

Anti-inflammatory evaluation of Solidago chilensis Meyen in a murine model of pleurisy.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and the mechanism of action of the aqueous extracts obtained from rhizomes, leaves and inflorescences of Solidago chilensis in the mouse model of pleurisy. The extracts were prepared by infusion and were lyophilized. RESULTS: The aqueous extracts of rhizomes, leaves or inflorescences inhibited leukocytes, neutrophils and exudation (P<0.05) in the inflammation induced by carrageenan. The rhizomes aqueous extract, butanolic and aqueous residual fractions inhibited leukocytes, neutrophils, myeloperoxidase, adenosine-deaminase, and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels in the inflammation induced by carrageenan (P<0.05). The rhizome aqueous extract and butanolic fraction also inhibited exudation, nitric oxide, and interleukin-1 beta levels (P<0.05). The rhizomes aqueous extract and its two derived fractions reduced leukocytes and mononuclears in the pleurisy induced by bradykinin, histamine, or substance P (P<0.05) and neutrophils in the pleurisy induced by histamine or substance P (P<0.05). Only aqueous residual fraction inhibited neutrophils induced by bradykinin (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Solidago chilensis aqueous extracts from leaves, inflorescences and rhizomes demonstrated an important anti-inflammatory effect, inhibiting cells in the inflammation caused by carrageenan. In addition, the rhizomes aqueous extract and its derived fractions also decreased pro-inflammatory mediators release into the site of the inflammatory process. The rhizomes aqueous extract and the butanolic fraction showed more evident anti-inflammatory actions.