ABSTRACT
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Verbenaceae) has been used in Brazilian traditional medicine to treat asthma and other respiratory diseases. AIMS OF THE STUDY: To investigate the effects of different doses of standardized hydro-ethanolic (SCH) and aqueous (SCA) extracts of aerial parts of S. cayennensis using a murine ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The major constituents of the plant extracts were identified and standardized by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Balb/c mice were challenged with OVA solution and treated concomitantly by intraperitoneal injection of standardized SCH or SCA extracts at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg concentrations. OVA-challenged control animals were treated with either dexamethasone (OVA-DEX) or saline solution (OVA-SAL). After challenge, we assessed in vivo bronchial hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation (number of cells), peribronchial inflammation (histological analysis) and production of OVA-specific IgE and interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 (ELISA). RESULTS: Acteoside, isoacteoside, and ipolamiide were the major constituents of SCH and SCA. The respective concentrations of acteoside in SCH and SCA were 78 and 98 µg/mL, while those of ipolamiide were 30 and 19 µg/mL. Treatment with 200 mg/kg of SCH or SCA decreased IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in lung homogenates. These reductions were accompanied by a lower influx of inflammatory cells (eosinophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages) to the airways and lungs. In addition to the anti-inflammatory effects, administration of SCA, but not SCH, ameliorated the parameters of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and decreased levels of circulating OVA-specific IgE. CONCLUSION: The results presented herein demonstrate for the first time the anti-asthmatic activity of S. cayennensis extracts in a murine model, thereby supporting the ethnopharmacological uses of the plant.
Subject(s)
Anti-Asthmatic Agents , Bronchial Hyperreactivity , Verbenaceae , Mice , Animals , Anti-Asthmatic Agents/adverse effects , Interleukin-13 , Disease Models, Animal , Interleukin-5 , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid , Bronchial Hyperreactivity/drug therapy , Ovalbumin/pharmacology , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Lung , Immunoglobulin E , Inflammation/drug therapy , Cytokines/pharmacologyABSTRACT
The Aß peptide-mediated toxicity participates in the neuronal death that occurs in Alzheimer's disease. The present study aims to isolate the major compounds of Serjania erecta Radlk leaves and assess whether these compounds protect PC12 cells from Aß25-35 peptide-induced toxicity. We isolated three flavonoid glycosides with high purity: quercetrin, vitexin, and isovitexin. The Aß25-35 peptide alone decreased the PC12 cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, as evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. We selected the Aß25-35 peptide concentration of 50 µM for the experiments. Treatment of PC12 cells with the flavonoids before exposure to the Aß25-35 peptide increased cell viability, i.e., these compounds protected the cells against Aß25-35 peptide-induced toxicity. Vitexin promoted higher protection levels than quercetrin and isovitexin, and reduced the lactate dehydrogenase release and NO production in Aß25-35 peptide-treated PC12 cells. Therefore, the glycosylated flavonoids that exist in S. erecta leaves, especially vitexin, protect PC12 cells from Aß25-35 peptide-induced toxicity.
