GC-MS analysis of essential oil extracted from Chimonanthus praecox flowers and exploration of its anti-inflammatory effect / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

【Objective】 To clarify the composition of essential oil extracted from Chimonanthus praecox flowers in Shiyan area and to explore its anti-inflammatory effects to provide support for further development of the resources of Chimonanthus praecox flowers. 【Methods】 SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group, model group, positive control group (aspirin 200 mg/kg), and low-, medium- and high-dose essential oil groups (0.1, 0.3 and 0.8g/kg). The blank control group and the model group were treated with distilled water by intragastric administration. The positive control group was treated with aspirin by intragastric administration. The low, medium, and high doses of the essential oil extracted from Chimonanthus praecox flowers were given 10, 30 and 80 mL/L at 10 mL/kg once a day. On day 5 of the experiment, 30 minutes after intragastric administration, 0.1 mL of Freund’s complete adjuvant was injected subcutaneously into the right foot plantar of each group of rats, and the blank control group was subcutaneously injected with 0.1 mL of normal saline. We observed and measured the toe’s volume of the rats before and 1, 2, 3, 5, 24, 48, and 72 h after injection by using drainage method. We then calculated the toe’s swelling rate in each group of rats at each time point, and used ELISA kit to measure the content of inflammatory factors in swollen foot tissue. 【Results】 In the medium- and high-dose essential oil groups, we observed significant inhibitory effects on the toe’s swelling rate in rats at 1, 2, 3, 5, 24, and 48 h after inflammation with Freund’s complete adjuvant (P<0.05). The essential oil extracted from Chimonanthus praecox flowers could significantly decrease the contents of TNF-α and IL-1β in the swollen foot tissue, and its anti-inflammatory effect was dose-dependent. 【Conclusion】 The essential oil extracted from Chimonanthus praecox flowers has obvious inhibitory effects on the rate of the toe’s swelling induced by Freund’s complete adjuvant. The anti-inflammatory effect may be related to the inhibition of TNF-α and IL-1β, but its anti-inflammatory effect is weaker than that of aspirin.