Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antifungal activity of Chuquiraga spinosa.

CONTEXT: Stem and leaves infusion of Chuquiraga spinosa (R&P) Don. (Asteraceae) is used in the Peruvian traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties and for the treatment of vaginal infections. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antifungal activities of C. spinosa for the first time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extracts of methanol, 50% methanol and water were obtained from C. spinosa aerial parts. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated (DPPH˙, ABTS˙(+) and superoxide radical-scavenging activity). The correlation between these results and total polyphenolic content was determined by Pearson's Correlation Coefficient. Anti-inflammatory activity of 50% methanol extract was evaluated with the rat model of carrageenan-induced acute inflammation and mouse model of TPA-induced acute inflammation. The antifungal activity of the extracts against Cladosporium cucumerinum and Candida albicans was studied by direct bioautography, and antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi was performed by culture in potato dextrose agar plates. RESULTS: All the extracts showed high antioxidant activity, and there was correlation between the activity and total polyphenolic compounds. As 50% methanol extract was administered orally, the paw edema in rats was reduced significantly (52.5%). This extract, by topical administration, produced a reduction of 88.07% of the edema TPA-induced in ear of mice. The aqueous and 50% methanol extracts were active against C. albicans (minimum inhibitory concentration of 2.5 and 6.25 µg, respectively). The aqueous extract showed antifungal activity against C. cucumerinum (MIC: 2.5 µg). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Preliminary phytochemical screening and the analysis of the three extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography diode-array detection showed the majority compounds are flavonoids and phenolic acid derivatives. These compounds may be responsible of the radical-scavenging activity of these extracts as well as responsible of anti-inflammatory effect in vivo of 50% methanol extract. Several authors have demonstrated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of some flavonoids and phenolic acids. The antifungal activity of the extracts obtained from aerial parts of C. spinosa has been investigated here for the first time. Other studies are necessary to determine the mechanism of action and to identify the bioactive compounds of this plant.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of Jungia paniculata.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Jungia paniculata (DC.) A. Gray (Asteraceae), used traditionally in Peru. The dry leaves were extracted with methanol, 50% methanol, and water. The anti-inflammatory activity of this plant was studied using in vitro (nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages and sPLA(2) inhibition assay) and in vivo (carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats and TPA-induced ear edema in mice) model systems. The antioxidant activity of extracts was studied using three in vitro model systems (DPPH(*) radical-scavenging assay, ABTS(*+) assay, and superoxide radical-scavenging activity). The results have been correlated with total phenolics and total flavonoids contents. In the NO test of the extracts of Jungia paniculata, no significant cytotoxicities were observed at the concentrations determined by MTT assay. Only the MeOH50 extract of Jungia paniculata significantly inhibited PLA(2) enzyme activity (82.3 +/- 2.6%). At 3 h, the 50% methanol extract of Jungia paniculata at an oral dose of 500 mg/kg showed significant suppression of carrageenan-induced rat paw edema (36.36%). The same extract induced a 93.99% reduction in TPA-induced edema in topical administration. The extracts exhibited a high antioxidant activity and contained high total levels of polyphenols and flavonoids. There was a significant linear correlation between total phenolics and flavonoids contents and antioxidant activity in the three models used. In conclusion, Jungia paniculata possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which confirm the use of this plant in folk medicine as a topical anti-inflammatory herbal.

Identification and quantification of flavonoids from Chuquiraga spinosa (Asteraceae).

Nine flavonol glycosides (quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, kaemperol-3-O-glucuronide, kaemperol-3-O-rutinoside, kaempherol-3-O-glucoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucuronide, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside and isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside) were isolated from the aerial parts of Chuquiraga spinosa (R. et P.) D. Don (Asteraceae). The identification of the compounds was carried out by HPLC/DAD, HPLC/MS and NMR analysis. These compounds may be useful in the chemotaxonomy of the genus and species.