Chemical characterization and anti-inflammatory activity of phytoconstituents from Swertia alata
Abstract Background: Swertia alata C.B Clarke (Gentianaceae) is well reported in Indian Traditional system of medicine and plant was known for its febrifuge, tonic, laxative and antimalarial properties.Objective: To isolate the phytoconstituents from the plant species S alata (Gentianaceae) and to study in vitro COX-1/COX-2, in vivo anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic activity.Material and methods: With intent to explore newer phytoconstituents, the ethanolic extract of aerial parts of S. alata was partitioned into petroleum ether and chloroform soluble fractions. The isolation of phytoconstituents was performed using silica gel base column chromatography, afforded two phytoisolates (one new and one known) characterized as oleanolic acid (SA-1) and 3-hydroxylup-12-(13)-ene-17-carboxylic acid (SA-4). The structures of the isolated compounds were established based on melting point (MP), Ultraviolet (UV), Attenuated total reflection-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), 1D (1H NMR & 13C NMR) 2D Heteronuclear Multiple Bond Correlation (HMBC) Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Mass spectrometry. Pharmacological screening was performed to evaluate in vitro Cyclooxygenase (COX-1 /COX-2) inhibitory activity, in vivo anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic activity.Results: Among the compounds, SA-4 (COX-1: COX-2 :: 104 : 61.68 µM, % inhibition = 61.36) found to be more effective than SA-1(COX-1:COX-2:: 128.4:87.25 µM, % inhibition = 47.72) Ulcerogenic study was also performed on the isolated compounds (SA-1 and SA-4) and found to possess significant gastric tolerance than indomethacin. Conclusion: Ayurvedic knowledge supported by modern science is necessary to isolate, characterize, and standardize the active constituents from herbal sources for anti-inflammatory and antiulcer activity.