The Pharmacological and Pathological Studies on Taiwan Folk Medicine (VII): The Anti-inflammatory Effect of Echinops grjiisii

1992 ◽  
Vol 20 (02) ◽  
pp. 127-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-Ching Lin ◽  
Cheng-hung Lin ◽  
Hui-Fen Chiu ◽  
Min-Fu Hu

The hepatotoxic-protective effects of "San-fang-feng" (the root of E. grijisii) and "Lou-lu" (the root of E. latifolius) on CCl 4 induced hepatotoxicity have been proposed in our previous paper (Lin et al, 1990). The anti-inflammatory effects of these two crude drugs were investigated in this experiment. The results indicated that both of them displayed pronounced anti-inflammatory activities against carrageenan-induced edema. Furthermore, in order to isolated the main active components of E. grijisii, fractions obtained from the methanolic extract of E. grijisii were investigated in mice for their 24-h LD 50 and 95% confidence limits, which could be used as a guiding for further animal experiments. Our findings demonstrated that n-hexane (100,300 mg/kg), chloroform (30,100,300 mg/kg) and ethyl acetate (30,100, 300 mg/kg) fractions could markedly inhibit the carrageenan-induced inflammation, and the main active principle was found to be concentrated in the chloroform fraction, which possessed significant inhibitory activities even more than does indomethacin.

Author(s):  
Boussoualim Naouel ◽  
Trabsa Hayat ◽  
Krache Imane ◽  
Ouhida Soraya ◽  
Arrar Lekhmissi ◽  
...  

Background: Anchusa azurea Mill. (AA) is a medicinal plant largely used traditionally in folk medicine in Algeria, it is locally named: hamham. It is effective in the treatment of various diseases. Objectives: The aim of the present study is to determine the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-hemolytic effects of phenolic fractions from Anchusa azurea Mill. Methods: In this study, various extracts from Anchusa azurea Mill. (AA) using solvents with increasing polarity were prepared. The quantification of polyphenols and flavonoids was determined. The anti-radical activity of the different extracts was evaluated using DPPH and by measuring the inhibition of the oxidative degradation of β-carotene. The In vitro antihemolytic effect of the plant extracts is determined (CrE, ChE, AcE and AqE). For each extract, four concentrations were tested: 10.59, 21.18, 42.37, 84.74 µg/ml. Vitamin C is used as a standard. Free-radical attack was measured by measuring the HT50 (Half-Hemolysis Time). The anti-inflammatory effect using PMA on mice of the methanolic extract (CrE) was evaluated. Results: The quantification of polyphenols and flavonoids showed that ethyl acetate extract (AcE) contains a higher amount of polyphenols. However, chloroform extract (ChE) presents a higher amount of flavonoids. AcE showed an important scavenging activity using the DPPH radical (IC50= 68.35 µg/ml). The results showed that AcE also exhibited very great inhibition on the oxidation of β-carotene/linoleic acid (84.33%). All extracts increased the HT50 values (Half-Hemolysis Time) in a dose-dependent manner. The three highest concentrations (21.18, 42.37 and 84.74 µg / ml) of ChE caused a very significant delay (p ≤ 0.001) of hemolysis compared to the negative control and the positive control "VIT C". The anti-inflammatory effect using PMA on mice showed that the methanolic extract (CrE) of AA reduced the weight of the ear edema. Conclusions: This plant has a strong pharmacological power, which supports its traditional medicinal use.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 3054
Author(s):  
Bruna Araujo Sousa ◽  
Osmar Nascimento Silva ◽  
William Farias Porto ◽  
Thales Lima Rocha ◽  
Luciano Paulino Silva ◽  
...  

Early plants began colonizing earth about 450 million years ago. During the process of coevolution, their metabolic cellular pathways produced a myriad of natural chemicals, many of which remain uncharacterized biologically. Popular preparations containing some of these molecules have been used medicinally for thousands of years. In Brazilian folk medicine, plant extracts from the bamboo plant Guadua paniculata Munro have been used for the treatment of infections and pain. However, the chemical basis of these therapeutic effects has not yet been identified. Here, we performed protein biochemistry and downstream pharmacological assays to determine the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of an aqueous extract of the G. paniculata rhizome, which we termed AqGP. The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of AqGP were assessed in mice. We identified and purified a protein (AgGP), with an amino acid sequence similar to that of thaumatins (~20 kDa), capable of repressing inflammation through downregulation of neutrophil recruitment and of decreasing hyperalgesia in mice. In conclusion, we have identified the molecule and the molecular mechanism responsible for the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of a plant commonly used in Brazilian folk medicine.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (10) ◽  
pp. 3053
Author(s):  
Anh Thu Ha ◽  
Mi-Yeon Kim ◽  
Jae Youl Cho

Barringtonia augusta methanol extract (Ba-ME) is a folk medicine found in the wetlands of Thailand that acts through an anti-inflammatory mechanism that is not understood fully. Here, we examine how the methanol extract of Barringtonia augusta (B. augusta) can suppress the activator protein 1 (AP-1) signaling pathway and study the activities of Ba-ME in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 macrophage cell line and an LPS-induced peritonitis mouse model. Non-toxic concentrations of Ba-ME downregulated the mRNA expression of cytokines, such as cyclooxygenase and chemokine ligand 12, in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Transfection experiments with the AP-1-Luc construct, HEK293T cells, and luciferase assays were used to assess whether Ba-ME suppressed the AP-1 functional activation. A Western blot assay confirmed that C-Jun N-terminal kinase is a direct pharmacological target of Ba-ME action. The anti-inflammatory effect of Ba-ME, which functions by β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) inhibition, was confirmed by using an overexpression strategy and a cellular thermal shift assay. In vivo experiments in a mouse model of LPS-induced peritonitis showed the anti-inflammatory effect of Ba-ME on LPS-stimulated macrophages and acute inflammatory mouse models. We conclude that Ba-ME is a promising anti-inflammatory drug targeting TAK1 in the AP-1 pathway.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Nabil Albaser ◽  
Najeeb Ghanem ◽  
Mohanad Shehab ◽  
Adnan Al-Adhal ◽  
Mohammed Amood AL-Kamarany

Caralluma is a plant that possessing a great therapeutic potential in folk medicine in Yemen, namely, Caralluma penicillata (C. penicillata) as antiulcer. The study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties and gastritis protection activity of C. penicillata against indomethacin in adult guinea pigs. The study was divided into four parts: firstly, the optimum dose of extract as anti-inflammatory effect was determined. Secondly, the acute anti-inflammatory effect of extract were estimated. Thirdly, the repeated doses of extract against chronic inflammation was estimated. The anti-inflammatory activity of extract was compared with indomethacin as a prototype of drug against inflammation. Fourthly, the gastritis protection properties of extract with/without indomethacin were performed. The results showed that a 400 mg/kg of 10% ethanol extract produced the maximum of anti-inflammatory effect. Also, the single dose of extract was equipotent for indomethacin (10 mg/kg), but shorter in duration with regard to acute anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, the repeated doses of extract against chronic inflammation were less potent than indomethacin with regard to ulcerogenic effect. On the other hand, extract-indomethacin combination reduced the gastritis effect of indomethacin based on ulcer index and histological study.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1934578X1400901 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Xie ◽  
Yi Lu ◽  
Cheng Yan ◽  
Rui Jiang ◽  
Weirui Liu ◽  
...  

The Chinese folk medicine Dianbaizhu, consisting of Gaultheria species, is widely used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by several minority nationalities. The species and plant parts of this genus used as Dianbaizhu in clinical application are confused. In order to elucidate the species and the medicinal parts, as well as to ascertain the effective components and the probable optimal source of Dianbaizhu, the different plant parts and polarity fractions of its mainstream species, G. leucocarpa var. yunnanensis were investigated. The inhibition of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor produced in macrophage J774 were used to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of those samples. G. leucocarpa var. yunnanensis may be the preferred species for anti-RA effect. The underground parts of this taxon showed the best anti-inflammatory and anti-RA activities; the n-butanol and water fractions of the underground parts may be the most anti-RA active.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 359-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rehab M. El-Sayed ◽  
Hebatalla I. Ahmed ◽  
Abd El-Lateef S. Abd El-Lateef ◽  
Azza A. Ali

Hepatic injury is one of the most common complications associated with cisplatin (CIS) use. Recently, liver protection lines are being discovered to stop the hepatic cell death due to inflammatory and apoptotic perturbations. l-arginine has protective effects in several models of liver injury. This study was designed to investigate the possible protective effect of l-arginine against CIS-induced acute hepatic injury in rats. Rats were divided into 4 groups: control, l-arginine, CIS, l-arginine + CIS. Liver function, oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis markers were assessed. l-arginine pretreatment protected the liver against CIS-induced toxicity as indicated by significantly alleviating the changes in liver function along with restoration of the antioxidant status. This finding was confirmed with the markedly improved pathological changes. l-arginine showed anti-inflammatory effect through the reduction of liver expression of iNOS, TNF-α, and NF-κβ, which were ameliorated to significant levels. Furthermore, l-arginine administration downregulated the liver expression of the apoptotic marker, caspase-3. The results recommend l-arginine as a hepatoprotective agent against CIS toxicity. Mostly, this hepatoprotective effect of l-arginine involved anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quanxin Ma ◽  
Kai Wang ◽  
Qinqin Yang ◽  
Shun Ping ◽  
Weichun Zhao ◽  
...  

Veronicastrum axillare is a traditional medical plant in China which is widely used in folk medicine due to its versatile biological activities, especially for its anti-inflammatory effects. However, the detailed mechanism underlying this action is not clear. Here, we studied the protective effects of V. axillare against acute lung injury (ALI), and we further explored the pharmacological mechanisms of this action. We found that pretreatment with V. axillare suppressed the release of proinflammatory cytokines in the serum of ALI mice. Histological analysis of lung tissue demonstrated that V. axillare inhibited LPS-induced lung injury, improved lung morphology, and reduced the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the lungs. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory actions of V. axillare were investigated in vitro. We observed that V. axillare suppressed the mRNA expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in RAW264.7 cells challenged with LPS. Furthermore, pretreatment of V. axillare in vitro reduced the phosphorylation of p65 and IκB-α which is activated by LPS. In conclusion, our data firstly demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory effects of V. axillare against ALI were achieved through downregulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby reducing the production of inflammatory mediators.


Biomolecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Agostinho Lopes ◽  
Vinícius Peixoto Rodrigues ◽  
Marcelo Marucci Pereira Tangerina ◽  
Lucia Regina Machado da Rocha ◽  
Catarine Massucato Nishijima ◽  
...  

Machaerium hirtum (Vell.) Stellfeld (Fabaceae) known in Brazil as “jacaranda de espinho” or “espinheira santa nativa” is a medicinal plant commonly used in folk medicine to treat ulcers, cough and diarrhea. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of hydroalcoholic extracts from M. hirtum twig (HEMh) using in vivo experimental models of nociception through the involvement of transient receptor potential channels, acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC), nitrergic, opioidergic, glutamatergic, and supraspinal pathways. Our results revealed an antinociceptive effect of HEMh mediated by the opioidergic, l-arginine-nitric oxide and glutamate systems, as well as by interactions with TRPA1/ASIC channels. The anti-inflammatory effect of HEMh evaluated with a xylene-induced ear edema and by the involvement of arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) showed involvement of the COX pathway, based on observed decreases in PGE2 levels. A phytochemical investigation of the HEMh led to the isolation of α-amyrin, β-amyrin, allantoin, apigenin-7-methoxy-6-C-β-d-glucopyranoside, and apigenin-6-C-β-d-glucopyranosyl-8-C-β-d-xylopyranoside. In conclusion, the acute oral administration of HEMh inhibits the nociceptive behavioral response in animals through the nitrergic, opioid, glutamatergic pathways, and by inhibition of the TRPA1 and ASIC channels, without causing locomotor dysfunction. In addition, its anti-inflammatory effect is associated with the COX pathway and decreased PGE2 levels.


1986 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 2614-2617 ◽  
Author(s):  
MINEO SHIMIZU ◽  
HIDEKI FUKUMURA ◽  
HIDEKI TSUJI ◽  
SEIICHI TANAAMI ◽  
TOSHIMITSU HAYASHI ◽  
...  

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