Anti-Inflammatory and Healing Activity of the Hydroalcoholic Fruit Extract of Solanum diploconos (Mart.) Bohs

Tagetes erecta L.: A traditional medicine effective in inflammatory process treatment

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tagetes erecta L. (Asteraceae), popularly known as Aztec Marigold, is used in folk medicine to treat several ailments including inflammatory processes. Despite its historical use, the specific mechanisms through which it may modulate inflammation, particularly its effects on neutrophils and macrophages activation, have not yet been completely investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of the hydroalcoholic extract obtained from T. erecta flowers, focusing on its role in the regulation of neutrophil and macrophage functions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The production of TNF, IL-6, CXCL-1, IL-1β, IL-10 (ELISA) and NO (Griess reaction), adhesion molecule expression (CD62L, CD49d and CD18, flow cytometry), and chemotaxis were analyzed in vitro using oyster glycogen-recruited peritoneal neutrophils or macrophages (RAW 264.7) stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and treated with the extract (1, 10 or 100 μg/mL). The resolution of inflammation was accessed by efferocytosis assay. The in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using carrageenan-induced inflammation in the subcutaneous tissue of male Swiss mice orally treated with the T. erecta extract (30, 100 or 300 mg/kg). The leukocyte influx (optical microscopy), secretion of chemical mediators (TNF, IL-6 and IL-1β, ELISA) and protein exudation (Bradford reaction) were quantified in the inflamed exudate.

RESULTS

In vitro studies demonstrated that the extract inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis and reduced the production and/or release of cytokines (TNF, IL-1β, CXCL1, and IL-6) as well as nitric oxide (NO) by neutrophils and macrophages when stimulated with LPS. Neutrophils treated with LPS and incubated with the extract showed an increase in CD62L expression, which leads to the impairment of neutrophil adhesion. The extract also enhanced efferocytosis of apoptotic neutrophils by macrophages, which was accompanied by increased IL-10 secretion and decreased TNF levels. In vivo studies yielded similar results, showing reduction in neutrophil migration, protein exudation, and cytokine release (TNF, IL-6, and IL-1β).

CONCLUSIONS

Together, the data herein obtained shows that T. erecta flower extract has anti-inflammatory effects by regulating inflammatory mediators, limiting neutrophil migration, and promoting efferocytosis. The in vivo results suggest that an herbal medicine made with T. erecta could represent an interesting pharmacological tool for the treatment of acute inflammatory condition.

Medicinal Plants from Latin America with Wound Healing Activity: Ethnomedicine, Phytochemistry, Preclinical and Clinical Studies—A Review

Latin America is a multicultural region with ancient traditional medicine. There is extensive knowledge of the use of medicinal plants for wound healing in this region. Nevertheless, many of these medicinal plants lack pharmacological, toxicological, and chemical studies. This review focuses on the ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, and pharmacological (preclinical and clinical) studies of medicinal plants with wound healing activity, from Latin America. An electronic database search was conducted by consulting scientific articles and books. A total of 305 plant species with wound healing activity were recorded, based on traditional medicine. Most medicinal plants used in wound healing in Latin America are topically administered; their methods of preparation are mainly by water infusion from aerial parts. Only thirty-five percent of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine for wound healing have been experimentally validated for their pharmacological effects, and the wound healing activity of five medicinal plants has been studied in clinical trials. In all, 25 compounds (mostly terpenes and flavonoids) have been isolated from medicinal plants with wound healing activity; therefore, extensive work is necessary for a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate the wound healing effects of medicinal plants in Latin America. The mechanism of action of medicinal plants, their toxicological actions on the skin, and their bioactive compounds, have yet to be investigated. This review on the ethnomedicinal, phytochemical, and pharmacological studies, of medicinal plants from Latin America with wound healing activity, offers promising data for further studies, as well as providing new insights into their possible role in wound care.

Involvement of a neutrophil-mast cell axis in the effects of Piper malacophyllum (C. PESL) C. DC extract and its isolated compounds in a mouse model of dysmenorrhoea

The effects of Piper malacophyllum (C. Pesl) C. DC extracts and its isolated compounds were analysed in a mouse model of primary dysmenorrhoea (PD). Female Swiss mice (6-8 weeks old) on proestrus were intraperitoneally treated with estradiol benzoate for 3 days, to induce PD. Twenty-four hours later, animals were treated 24 h later with vehicle, plant extract, gibbilimbol B, 4,6-dimethoxy-5-E-phenylbutenolide, mixture of 4,6-dimethoxy-5-E-phenylbutenolide and 4,6-dimethoxy-5-Z-phenylbutenolide, or ibuprofen. One hour later, oxytocin was injected and the numbers of abdominal writhing were counted. Then, mice were euthanized and uteri were collected for morphometrical and histological analyses. The effects of P. malacophyllum in inflammation were investigated in mouse peritoneal neutrophils culture stimulated with LPS or fMLP (chemotaxis and mediator release). Finally, uterus contractile and relaxing responses were assessed. Similar to ibuprofen, P. malacophyllum extract and isolated compounds reduced abdominal writhing in mice with PD. Histology indicated a marked neutrophil and mast cell infiltrate in the uterus of PD animals which was attenuated by the extract. The compounds and the extract reduced neutrophil chemotaxis and inflammatory mediator release by these cells. Reduced TNF levels were also observed in uteri of PD mice treated with P. malacophyllum. The extract did not affect spontaneous uterine contractions nor those induced by carbachol or KCl. However, it caused relaxation of oxytocin-induced uterine contraction, an effect blunted by H1 receptor antagonist. Overall the results indicate that P. malacophyllum may represent interesting natural tools for reliving PD symptoms, reducing the triad of pain, inflammation and spasmodic uterus behaviour.

(E)-9-Octadecenoic Acid Ethyl Ester Derived from Lotus Seedpod Ameliorates Inflammatory Responses by Regulating MAPKs and NF-κB Signalling Pathways in LPS-Induced RAW264.7 Macrophages

Inflammation is generally considered a key risk factor in the progress of several chronic diseases, such as arthritis, gastritis, and hepatitis. Natural products with anti-inflammatory ability have played a great role in the process of overcoming these inflammatory diseases. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activities of ten natural compounds derived from lotus seedpod and discovered (E)-9-octadecenoic acid ethyl ester (E9OAEE) inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) optimally in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, we explored the effects of E9OAEE on inflammatory responses and the underlying mechanisms in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. The results indicated that E9OAEE significantly suppressed the production of NO, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα) in a dose-dependent manner. The protein expression and mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) were inhibited by pretreatment of E9OAEE. Furthermore, E9OAEE restrained the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) family members, ERK, P38, and JNK stimulated by LPS-treated for 30 min and prevented the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) prompted by LPS-treated for 6 h in RAW264.7 macrophages. Taken together, we discovered an anti-inflammatory component from lotus seedpod and identified E9OAEE attenuated the inflammatory response in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages probably by regulating the activation of MAPKs and NF-κB signalling pathways, which would provide some base for the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs.