Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Salvia keerlii

Comparative Metabolomic Analysis and Antinociceptive Effect of Methanolic Extracts from Salvia cinnabarina, Salvia lavanduloides and Salvia longispicata

Mexico is considered one of the countries with the greatest diversity of the Salvia genus. A significant percentage of its species are known for their use in traditional medicine, highlighting their use as an analgesic. The objective of this work was to determine the chemical composition of the methanolic extracts of S. cinnabarina, S. lavanduloides and S. longispicata through untargeted metabolomics, as well as the in vivo evaluation of the antinociceptive effect and acute oral toxicity. The chemical profiling was performed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI+/--MS-QTOF) system and tentative identifications were performed using a compendium of information on compounds previously isolated from Mexican species of the genus. Pharmacological evaluation was carried out using the formalin test and OECD guidelines. The analysis of the spectrometric features of the mass/charge ratios of the three salvias shows that a low percentage of similarity is shared between them. Likewise, the putative identification allowed the annotation of 46 compounds, mainly of diterpene and phenolic nature, with only four compounds shared between the three species. Additionally, the extracts of the three salvias produced a significant antinociceptive effect at a dose of 300 mg/kg administered orally and did not present an acute oral toxicity effect at the maximum dose tested, indicating a parameter of LD50 > 2000 mg/kg. The exploration of the chemical profile of the three salvias by untargeted metabolomics shows that, despite being species with antinociceptive potential, they have different chemical profiles and therefore different active metabolites.

Origin differentiation based on volatile constituents of genuine medicinal materials Quisqualis indica L. via HS-GC-MS, response surface methodology, and chemometrics

INTRODUCTION

Quisqualis indica L. (QIL) has a long history as a traditional Chinese herb in China, but the study of volatile components in QIL from different geographical sources has been relatively rare.

OBJECTIVES

To establish an optimal headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS) method to comprehensively analyse the volatile component profile and screen quality markers of QIL from different origins.

METHODS

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimise the conditions for headspace analysis. The volatile components of QIL from four main origins of southwest China were analysed and identified by HS-GC-MS. The similarity of all samples of QIL was evaluated by fingerprint. The differences of the volatile components in QIL from different origins were distinguished by chemometrics.

RESULTS

According to the optimal conditions of RSM, a total of 31 volatile components were identified, including fatty acids, aldehydes, alcohols, alkyl pyrazines, and other volatile components. Similarity evaluation presented that there were 26 common volatile components with different contents in all samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that QIL from four different origins could be roughly divided into four categories. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) indicated that QIL from different origins had obvious regional characteristics.

CONCLUSION

The optimised HS-GC-MS method provided a strategy to rapidly, effectively, and accurately elucidate the volatile component profile of QIL from different origins, and seven important differential components were screened for quality evaluation and origin traceability.

Phenolic Content, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antihyperglycemic, and α-Amylase Inhibitory Activities of Aqueous Extract of Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl

Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl essential oil is becoming more popular as a cognitive enhancer and treatment for memory loss. It is high in natural antioxidants and has spasmolytic, antiseptic, analgesic, sedative, and anti-inflammatory properties. Its aqueous extract has hypoglycemic activity and is used to treat diabetic hyperglycemia, but few studies have focused on it. The objective of this work is to evaluate the various biological and pharmacological powers of Salvia lavandulifolia Vahl leaf aqueous extract. Quality control of the plant material was first carried out. Followed by a phytochemical study on the aqueous extract of S. lavandulifolia leaves, namely phytochemical screening and determination of total polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins contents. Then, the biological activities were undertaken, in particular the antioxidant activity (total antioxidant activity and trapping of the DPPH° radical) and the antimicrobial activity. The chemical composition of this extract was also determined by HPLC-MS-ESI. Finally, the inhibitory effect of the α-amylase enzyme as well as the antihyperglycaemic effect was evaluated in vivo in normal rats overloaded with starch or D-glucose. The aqueous extract obtained by use of the decoction of leaves of S. lavandulifolia contains 246.51 ± 1.69 mg EQ of gallic acid/g DE, 23.80 ± 0.12 mg EQ quercetin/g DE, and 2.46 ± 0.08 mg EQ catechin /g DE. Its total antioxidant capacity is around 527.03 ± 5.95 mg EQ of ascorbic acid/g DE. At a concentration of 5.81 ± 0.23 µg/mL, our extract was able to inhibit 50% of DPPH° radicals. Moreover, it showed bactericidal effect against Proteus mirabilis, fungicidal against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and fungistatic against Candida krusei. A marked antihyperglycemic activity (AUC = 54.84 ± 4.88 g/L/h), as well as a significant inhibitory effect of α-amylase in vitro (IC50 = 0.99 ± 0.00 mg/mL) and in vivo (AUC = 51.94 ± 1.29 g/L/h), is recorded in our extract. Furthermore, its chemical composition reveals the presence of 37.03% rosmarinic acid, 7.84% quercetin rhamnose, 5.57% diosmetin-rutinoside, 5.51% catechin dimer, and 4.57% gallocatechin as major compounds. The antihyperglycemic and α-amylase inhibitory activities, associated with the antioxidant properties of S. lavandulifolia, justify its use in the treatment of diabetes in traditional medicine and highlight its potential introduction into antidiabetic drugs.

Myristic acid reduces skin inflammation and nociception

This study evaluated the inhibitory effect of myristic acid (MA) on models of inflammation and nociception. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of MA were assessed on LPS-stimulated macrophages, membrane stabilization assay, and inhibition of protein denaturation, whereas the inhibitory activity of MA on in vivo inflammation was assessed on TPA-induced ear edema using acute and chronic assays in mice. The inhibitory effect of MA on nociception was assessed using three in vivo models. MA exerted in vitro anti-inflammatory activity by the increase (58%) in the production of IL-10 in LPS-stimulated macrophages. In the in vivo assay, MA showed good anti-inflammatory effects on the acute (ED₅₀ = 62 mg/kg) and chronic (ED₅₀ = 77 mg/kg) TPA-induced ear edema. The antinociceptive activity of MA was related to the participation of the nitrergic system in the formalin-induced paw licking test. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Previous studies with different plant extracts containing MA, as one of their major components, have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive actions. However, the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive actions of myristic acid have not been previously reported. The results suggest that MA induced anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-stimulated macrophages through the participation of IL-10. The antinociceptive effects of MA are attributed to the participation of the nitrergic system.