Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Algerian Thymelaea microphylla Coss. and Dur. Extracts.

BACKGROUND: Thymelaea microphylla Coss. et Dur. (Thymelaeaceae) (TM) is a rare medicinal plant endemic to Algeria. Leaves decoction is used in folk medicine for anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties. OBJECTIVE: Herein, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of different extracts from leaves and flowers of Algerian TM were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was carried out by in vitro cell-free assays (antioxidant/radical properties), ex vivo experiments (inhibition of prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2 release in human whole blood) and in vitro experiments on cell systems (cytotoxicity on peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and protective effects on human vein endothelial cells exposed to TNF-α). RESULTS: The acetone TM extract showed significant antioxidant properties and excellent anti-inflammatory and cyclooxygenase-inhibitory activity, together with lack of toxicity on normal human blood cells; furthermore, it was able to protect endothelial cells against dysfunction induced by TNF-α, as shown by decrease in cell death, e-selectin expression and leukocyte adhesion. CONCLUSION: On these bases, TM leaves and flowers appear to be a good source of bioactive compounds with significant antioxidant and antiinflammatory capability, and potentially effective in prevention and treatment of pathological conditions related to oxidative stress and inflammation, such as endothelial dysfunction. SUMMARY: Thymelaea microphylla leaves and flowers are a good source of bioactive compounds with significant antioxidant/free radical scavenger and antiinflammatory activity.The acetone extract from leaves and flowers of Algerian Thymelaea microphylla possesses excellent cyclooxygenase-inhibitory activity.This extract is able to protect against endothelial dysfunction, an early event in development of atherosclerosis and vascular diseases. Abbreviations used: TM: Thymelaea microphylla; BCB: Beta-carotene bleaching; AcE: Acetone extract; PGE2: Prostaglandin E2; TxB2: Thromboxane B2; FL: Fluorescein; Cat: Catechin; DPPH: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; ABTS: 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethyl-benzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid)+; Que: Quercetin; ORAC: Oxygen radical absorbance capacity; AAPH: 2,2'-azobis (2-methylpropionamidine)dihydrochloride; PMS/NADH: Phenazine methosulfate/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide; HUVECs: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of a polar extract of Thymelaea microphylla Coss. et Dur.

Thymelaea microphylla Coss. et Dur. (Thymelaeaceae) is a rare medicinal plant endemic to Algeria. In order to continue our studies on this species, herein we report the isolation and characterisation of 20 compounds from a hydroalcoholic extract (EtOH-H2O 7:3) of the aerial parts. They include monoterpene glucosides (1-3), phenolic acid derivatives (4, 8 and 9), phenylpropanoid glucosides (5 and 6), flavonoids (7, 10 and 11), a benzyl alcohol glucoside (12), ionol glucosides (13-16), lignans (17-19) and a bis-coumarin (20). All the structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as ESI-MS analysis. Moreover, the extract of T. microphylla showed a significant and concentration-dependent free radical-scavenging activity in vitro, correlated to the presence of phenolic and chlorogenic acid derivatives (8, 9 and 4).

Microphynolides A and B, new spiro-γ-lactone glycosides from Thymelaea microphylla.

Two new spiro-γ-lactone glycosides named microphynolide A (1) and microphynolide B (2), together with twelve known compounds including five biflavonoids namely neochamaejasmin A, neochamaejasmin B, daphnodorin B, genkwanol A and stelleranol, one bis-coumarin daphnoretin, two lignans called pinoresinol and matairesinol, one flavonoid glucoside, tiliroside, a sinapyl alcohol glucoside, syringin, and two phytosterols, ß-sitosterol and ß-sitosterol-3-O-glucoside, were isolated from ethyl acetate extracts of the aerial parts and roots of the plant Thymelaea microphylla Coss. and Dur. All the isolated compounds were characterised by using spectroscopic methods and comparison with the literature data.