ABSTRACT
Melampyrum pratense L. (Koch) is used in traditional Austrian medicine for the treatment of different inflammation-related conditions. In this work, we show that the extracts of M. pratense stimulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors- (PPARs-) α and - γ that are well recognized for their anti-inflammatory activities. Furthermore, the extract inhibited the activation of the proinflammatory transcription factor NF- κ B and induction of its target genes interleukin-8 (IL-8) and E-selectin in vitro. Bioassay-guided fractionation identified several active flavonoids and iridoids including melampyroside and mussaenoside and the phenolic compound lunularin that were identified in this species for the first time. The flavonoids apigenin and luteolin were distinguished as the main components accountable for the anti-inflammatory properties. Apigenin and luteolin effectively inhibited tumor necrosis factor α (TNF- α )-induced NF- κ B-mediated transactivation of a luciferase reporter gene. Furthermore, the two compounds dose-dependently reduced IL-8 and E-selectin protein expression after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or TNF- α in endothelial cells (ECs). The iridoids melampyroside and mussaenoside prevented the elevation of E-selectin in LPS-stimulated ECs. Lunularin was found to reduce the protein levels of the proinflammatory mediators E-selectin and IL-8 in ECs in response to LPS. These data validate the ethnomedical use of M. pratense for the treatment of inflammatory conditions and point to the constituents accountable for its anti-inflammatory activity.
ABSTRACT
A differential heat capacity flow microcalorimeter is used to monitor in a continuous mode the thermal expansion of a sample during a programmed temperature scan. The sample may consist of liquids, suspensions, or bulk solids in a confining liquid and the typical temperature scanning rate is of the order of 1 K/min. The technique has a precision better than 1% and a detection limit of 10(-6) ml s(-1). In contrast to conventional dilatometers, this technique offers variable sensitivity and is not limited by the magnitude of the total volume change during the experiment. Various expansibility data obtained in the temperature range 10-55 degrees C are reported for several systems, namely water, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and aqueous solutions of sodium chloride. The volume changes for the thermal transition of Teflon and the phase separation of 2-butoxyethanol/water mixtures further illustrate the possibilities of this new technique.
