In vitro immunomodulatory activity and in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential with gastroprotective effect of the Mediterranean red alga Laurencia obtusa.

CONTEXT: Red algae have been recognized as a rich natural source of compounds possessing interesting biological and pharmacological activities. OBJECTIVE: This work investigates anti-inflammatory, analgesic and gastroprotective activities of MeOH/CH2Cl2 crude extract and its fractions F1 (50% MeOH) and F2 (80% MeOH) from the whole alga plant Laurencia obtusa Hudson (Rhodomelaceae). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in vitro using cytometric bead array (CBA) technology to follow up the secretion of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in lipopolysaccharide activated THP-1 monocytic cells at doses of 10-250 µg/mL and in vivo using carrageenan-induced paw oedema in Wistar rats at doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. Crude extract and fractions were tested at the doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg for peripheral and central analgesic activity by acetic acid-induced writhing test and hot-plate method, respectively, in Swiss albino mice. Gastroprotective activity was evaluated using HCl/ethanol-induced gastric ulcer test in rats at doses of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. RESULTS: Crude extract, F1 and F2 showed an interesting inhibition of TNF-α secretion with IC50 values of 25, 52 and 24 µg/mL, respectively, and a significant anti-inflammatory activity in vivo (p < 0.01), 3 h after carrageenan injection, the oedema inhibition was 55.37%, 52.18% and 62.86%, respectively, at the dose of 100 mg/kg. Furthermore, they showed a significant peripheral analgesic activity with 53.79%, 55.92% and 57.37% (p < 0.01) of writhing inhibition, respectively. However, no significant activity was found in the hot-plate test. An interesting gastroprotective effect was observed with crude extract and its fractions F1 and F2 with a gastric ulcer inhibition of 65.48%, 77.42% and 81.29%, respectively, at the dose of 50 mg/kg. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These results suggest that L. obtusa might be used as a potential source of natural anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents with gastroprotective effect.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities with gastroprotective effect of semi-purified fractions and isolation of pure compounds from Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore anti-inflammatory activities of organic extract and its semi-purified fractions (ethanol, acetone, methanol/dichloromethane) from the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis. METHODS: The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities were evaluated, using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model and the acetic acid writhing test in mice. The gastroprotective activity was determined using HCl/EtOH induced gastric ulcers in rats. The purification and structure elucidation of compound(s) from the more effective fraction were determined by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods and in comparison with data reported in the literature. RESULTS: The fraction F-EtOH showed an important anti-inflammatory activity associated with significant analgesic and gastroprotective properties. The purification and structure elucidation of compound(s) from this fraction lead to the identification of one diterpenoid and four sterols. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that components from the active fraction can be used to treat various anti-inflammatory diseases.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities with gastroprotective effect of semi-purified fractions and isolation of pure compounds from Mediterranean gorgonianEunicella singularis

Objective:To explore anti-inflammatory activities of organic extract and its semi-purified fractions (ethanol, acetone, methanol/dichloromethane) from the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis.Methods:The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities were evaluated, using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model and the acetic acid writhing test in mice. The gastroprotective activity was determined using HCl/EtOH induced gastric ulcers in rats. The purification and structure elucidation of compound(s) from the more effective fraction were determined by chromatographic and spectroscopic methods and in comparison with data reported in the literature.Results: The fraction F-EtOH showed an important anti-inflammatory activity associated with significant analgesic and gastroprotective properties. The purification and structure elucidation of compound(s) from this fraction lead to the identification of one diterpenoid and four sterols.Conclusions: These results suggested that components from the active fraction can be used to treat various anti-inflammatory diseases.

Pharmacological evaluation of the semi-purified fractions from the soft coral Eunicella singularis and isolation of pure compounds.

BACKGROUND: Gorgonians of the genus Eunicella are known for possessing a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antiproliferative and antibacterial effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective effect of the organic extract and its semi-purified fractions from the white gorgonian Eunicella singularis and the isolation and identification of pure compound(s) from the more effective fraction. METHODS: Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated, using the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test and in comparison to the reference drug Acetylsalicylate of Lysine. The gastroprotective activity was determined using HCl/EtOH induced gastric ulcers in rats. The purification of compound(s) from the more effective fraction was done by two chromatographic methods (HPLC and MPLC). The structure elucidation was determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis (1H and 13C NMR, COSY, HMBC, HMQC and NOESY) and by comparison with data reported in the literature. RESULTS: The evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity of different fractions from Eunicella singularis showed in a dependent dose manner an important anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanol fraction, the percentage of inhibition of edema, 3 h after carrageenan injection was 66.12%, more effective than the reference drug (56.32%). In addition, this ethanolic fraction showed an interesting gastroprotective effect compared to the reference drugs, ranitidine and omeprazol. The percentage of inhibition of gastric ulcer induced by HCl/ethanol in rats was 70.27%. The percentage of the reference drugs (ranitidine and omeprazol) were 65 and 87.53%, respectively. The purification and structure elucidation of compound(s) from this ethanolic fraction were leading to the isolation of five sterols: cholesterol (5α-cholest-5-en-3ß-ol) (1); ergosterol (ergosta-5,22-dien-3ß-ol) (2); stigmasterol (24-ethylcholesta-5,22-dien-3b-ol) (3); 5α,8α-epidioxyergosta 6,22-dien-3ß-ol (4) and 3ß-hydroxy-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6-ene (5); and one diterpenoid: palmonine D (6). CONCLUSION: Based on data presented here, we concluded that diterpenoids and sterols detected in the ethanolic fraction can be responsible for its pharmacological activity.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of pyrazolopyrimidopyrimidine derivatives: anti-inflammatory agents with gastroprotective effect in rats.

We report the synthesis of new anti-inflammatory 1,7-dihydropyrazolo[3',4':4,5]pyrimido[1,6-a]pyrimidine 5 from aminocyanopyrazole. All compounds were characterized by physical, chemical and spectral studies. Preliminary pharmacological evaluation of the resulting products showed that compounds 5a, b, f (50-100 mg/kg, i.p) are active anti-inflammatory agents in carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema assay, and their effects are comparable to that of acetylsalicylic-lysine (300 mg/kg, i.p.), used as a reference drug. The nature of substituent (Y, R3) had a pronounced effect on the anti-inflammatory activity. Studies of structure-activity relationships have led to selection of compound ethyl-3,5-dimethyl-7-imino-N1-phenyl-1,7-dihydropyrazolo[3',4':4,5]pyrimido[1,6-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxylate, 5f which exhibited the most potent anti-inflammatory activity. In addition, the compounds 5a, b, f showed a significant gastroprotective effect against HCl/EtOH-induced gastric ulcer.

Evaluation of antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of the organic extract and its polar fractions from the Mediterranean gorgonian Eunicella singularis.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of organic extract and its polar fractions from Eunicella singularis (Esper 1794). Organic extract and two fractions of E. singularis (F2 and F3) were screened for the presence of phenolic compounds, terpenoids and glycosides. The antiproliferative activity of E. singularis organic extract and its polar fractions was evaluated on human cancer cell lines (A549, lung cell carcinoma; HCT15, colon cell carcinoma and MCF7, breast adenocarcinoma), using the MTT colorimetric method and clonogenic assay, as well as the antioxidant activity, using the stable radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and the FRAP assays. The fractions F2 and F3 showed significant total phenolic content (40 and 35.72mg gallic-acid equivalent/g dried sample), respectively, and important antiproliferative properties against the cancer cell lines. The IC50 values, ranged from 36 to 274µg/ml for A549; 93 to 426µg/ml for HCT15; and 52 to 225µg/ml for MCF7 and in the clonogenic inhibition assay from 18 to 134µg/ml for A549; 43 to 357µg/ml for HCT15; and 17 to 160µg/ml for MCF7. Using the DPPH method, the fraction F2 exhibited the strongest radical scavenging activity, with IC50 0.08mg/ml, which approaches the activity of the powerful antioxidant standard, ascorbic acid (IC50=0.064mg/ml). The reducing power of the samples was in the following order: F2>organic extract>F3. These results suggest that E. singularis fractions might be used as a potential source of natural antioxidant and antitumor agents. The purification and determination of the chemical structures of compounds in these active fractions are under investigation. The results could provide a compound(s) with a promising role in future medicines.

Evaluation of antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activities of methanol extract and its fractions from the Mediterranean sponge.

BACKGROUND: Without doubt, natural products have been, and still are, the cornerstone of the health care armamentarium. Of all natural sources, the marine environment is clearly the last great frontier for pharmaceutical and medical research. METHODS: This work progresses in the direction of identifying component(s) from the Mediterranean sponge, Spongia officinalis with pharmacological activities. In the present study we investigated the efficacy of methanol extract and its semi-purified fractions (F2, F3) from Spongia officinalis for their in vivo anti-inflammatory activity using the carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats and their in vitro antiproliferative effects by their potential cytotoxic activity using the MTT colorimetric method and clonogenic inhibition against three human cancer cell lines (A549, lung cell carcinoma, HCT15, colon cell carcinoma and MCF7, breast adenocarcinoma). RESULTS: The fractions F2 and F3 showed interesting anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities in a dose dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicates that the methanolic extrac and its fractions from Spongia officinalis are a significant source of compounds with the antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activities, and this may be useful for developing potential chemopreventive substances.

Anticonvulsant and analgesic activities of crude extract and its fractions of the defensive secretion from the Mediterranean sponge, Spongia officinalis.

This study progresses in the direction of identifying component(s) from the Mediterranean sponge, Spongia officinalis with anticonvulsant and analgesic activities. We investigated the efficacy of crude extract and its semi-purified fractions (F1-F3) of the defensive secretion from Spongia officinalis for their in vivo anticonvulsant activity using the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) seizure model and analgesic activity using the writhing test in mice. Among the series the crude extract exhibited interesting analgesic activity in a dose dependent manner. Similarly the fraction F2 showed a partial protection of mice from PTZ-induced seizure and interesting analgesic activity in a dose dependent manner. The purification and the determination of chemical structure(s) of compound(s) of this active fraction are under investigation.