In vitro evaluation on the scolicidal effect of Myrtus communis L. and Tripleurospermum disciforme L. methanolic extracts.

Hydatid disease, a zoonotic disease, is still endemic in many developing countries that is caused by the metacestode of Echinococcus (E.) granulosus. Surgical management is one of the best choices for the treatment of the hydatidosis and using effective scolicidal agents during hydatid surgery is essential to prevent the secondary infection. The aim of the present in vitro study was to evaluate the scolicidal effect of the methanolic extract of Myrtus communis and Tripleurospermum disciforme against protoscoleces of hydatid cyst. Protoscoleces of E. granulosus were aspirated aseptically from infected livers. Various concentrations of M. communis and T. disciforme extracts at different exposure times were examined for their scolicidal activity. Normal saline and silver nitrate were used as negative and positive groups, correspondingly. The viability of protoscoleces was evaluated by 0.1% eosin. The result of the current study indicated that the highest scolicidal effect (100%) of M. communis was obtained at 100 and 50 mg/ml concentrations and LC50 in 10, 20 and 30 min were 11.64 mg/ml, 7.62 mg/ml, and 6.47 mg/ml respectively. The scolicidal activity of T. disciforme was negligible even at high concentration. The findings have shown that the scolicidal activity of M. communis against echinococcosis protoscoleces was strong, while the T. disciforme extract showed fewer effects. However, further studies are required for identification of the active ingredients in the extract and its safety on cells in effective concentrations.

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils of Tripleurospermum disciforme in three developmental stages.

CONTEXT: Tripleurospermum disciforme (C.A. Mey) Schultz Bip. (Asteraceae) is a widespread biennial species which also has traditional medicinal uses. According to the few recent studies, essential oils of this species exhibit anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antiseptic, antifungal, antiulcer, and antioxidant activity. OBJECTIVE: The chemical compositions of the hydrodistilled oils of T. disciforme of Iranian origin are studied in the stages of prior to flowering, flowering, and post flowering, for the first time. Also, we investigated the antibacterial activities of the oils. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The essential oils of air-dried T. disciforme were obtained by hydrodistillation in three different developmental stages and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antimicrobial activity of the isolated essential oil, in the three stages, was also investigated against four Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria. RESULTS: Twenty-one components were identified in the essential oils of T. disciforme, and the highest amount of oil was extracted at the flowering stage. The main component of the species in the flowering stage was ß-farnesene (22.46%) and the other major components were ß-sesquiphellandrene (17.85%), p-methoxy-ß-cyclopropylstyrene (16.64%), heptadecane (10.6%), p-methoxy-humulene oxide (6.88%) and benzene acetaldehyde (9.3%). The MIC of essential oil was evaluated from 4 µL ml(-1) against Staphylococcus subtilis and Bacillus cereus to 22 µL ml(-1) against Citrobacter amalonaticus. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the occurrence of ß-farnesene/ß-sesquiphellandrene chemotype of T. disciforme in western regions of Iran that are different from previous reports. The findings also showed that the essential oils T. disciforme have excellent antibacterial activities and thus have great potentiality to be used as a resource for natural health products.

Evaluation of chemical profile and antioxidant activity of Tripleurospermum insularum, a new species from Turkey.

This article presents the very first phytochemical investigation on new species Tripleurospermum insularum Inceer & Hayirlioglu-Ayaz. The volatile profile of odorous parts of the plant was analysed by GC/MS, and compounds were identified in headspace and essential oil obtained from aerial parts, representing 70.81% and 92.44% in total, respectively. The major volatiles were n-alkanes (38.43-59.22%), while essential oil was also rich in globulol (13.45%) and ß-sesquiphellandrene (9.29%). The content of phenolic compounds in methanolic extract and oil was 3621.62 and 14.4 mg GAE/100 g of dry plant, respectively. Moreover, potential medicinal effects were found in mean of antioxidant activity of this plant measured by using two different assays: radical-scavenging activity and ferric-reducing activity. Samples revealed values ranging from 0.33 to 146.80 µmol TE/100 g for DPPH assay, and from 2.29 to 5414.17 µmol AAE/100 g for FRAP assay.

Inhibition of carrageenan-induced edema by tripleurospermum disciforme extract in rats.

In this research anti-inflammatory effect of Tripleurospermum disciforme extract was studied in rats. The effect of the extract against acute inflammation was studied by hind paw edema test. Intraperitoneal injection of different doses (15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 mg kg(-1)) of Tripleurospermum disciforme which was followed by hind paw carageenan injection 1 h later were investigated. The resultant edema was quantified by measuring changes of diameter of hind foot. After 2, 3, 4 and 6 h we measured the anti-inflammatory effect of Tripleurospermum disciforme extract. Tripleurospermum disciforme extract with doses of 45, 60, 90 and 120 mg kg(-1) and indomethacin 5 mg kg(-1) showed significant effect. It is concluded that Tripleurospermum disciforme extract has anti-inflammatory effect against acute inflammation.