Chemical constituents of Eugenia catharinae and their antioxidant activity.

Nine compounds were isolated from the leaves of Eugenia catharinae, namely monomethyl olivetol (1), ß-sitosterol (2), stigmasterol (3), uvaol (4), erythrodiol (5), rotundic acid (6), quercetin (7), catechin (8) and myricitrin (9). The structures of 1-9 were established through analysis of their spectroscopic (1H and 13C NMR) and spectrometric (MS) data. Compounds 1 and 6 are reported the first time in the Eugenia genus. In addition, these data were compared with those reported in the literature. The antioxidant activity of plant samples and compounds was measured using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Flavonoids 7, 8, 9 and the ethanolic extract showed the best results, with IC50 values of 20.94 µM, 44.20 µM, 30.01 µM and 58.82 µg/mL, respectively.

7-prenyloxi-6-methoxycoumarin from Polygala sabulosa A.W. Bennett Regulates p38 MAPK and NF-kB Pathways Inhibiting the Inflammation Induced by Carrageenan in the Mouse Model of Pleurisy.

CONTEXT: Polygala sabulosa, popularly known as "timutu-pinheirinho," has been used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of bowel and kidney disorders and as an expectorant. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of the crude extract (CE), acetonic fraction (Ac), and the main compound, 7-prenyloxi-6-methoxycoumarin (PC) on a mouse model of carrageenan-induced pleurisy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mouse model of carrageenan-induced pleurisy was used to investigate the effects of P. sabulosa CE, Ac and PC on leukocyte migration, exudate formation, activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO), and adenosine-deaminase (ADA), levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) and nitric oxide (NO). In addition, the effect of the plant material on lung histology was also evaluated. The effects of PC on the TNF-α, IL-1ß and NO synthase 2 (NOS2) mRNA expression, were also investigated. Finally, the effect of PC on the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) was also evaluated. RESULTS: CE, Ac and PC reduced inflammation in the pleural cavity and lungs. This effect was evidenced by reduction on all inflammatory parameters evaluated; the exception being the inability of the CE to inhibit exudate formation. In isolation, PC showed reduction on mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß and NOS2, and on activation of the NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways. CONCLUSION: The presented results show that P. sabulosa has significant anti-inflammatory activity, as does its main compound, PC. Moreover, the results suggest that PC exerts its effects mainly by inhibited the NF-κB and p38 MAPK pathways.

Polygala molluginifolia A. St.-Hil. and Moq. prevent inflammation in the mouse pleurisy model by inhibiting NF-κB activation.

UNLABELLED: This study was conducted to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of Polygala molluginifolia (Polygalaceae) on the mouse pleurisy model induced by carrageenan. P. molluginifolia is a plant native to southern Brazil that is popularly called "canfora". The Polygala genus is used to treat different pathologies, including inflammatory diseases, in traditional medicine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The whole P. molluginifolia plant material was extracted by maceration with 96% ethanol. The crude hydroalcoholic extract (CE) was subjected to chromatographic procedures to produce various derivate fractions, including its aqueous (Aq), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and hexane (Hex) fractions. Compound 1 (5,3',4'-trihydroxy-6″,6″-dimethylpyrano [2″,3″:7,6] isoflavone) (Iso), which was isolated from the EtOAc fraction, and Compound 2 (rutin) (Rut), which was isolated from the Aq fraction, were identified using ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and quantified using an HPLC apparatus. RESULTS: The CE, the Aq, EtOAc, and Hex fractions, and the isolated compounds Iso and Rut were able to reduce cell migration and exudation. Furthermore, the plant material also decreased the myeloperoxidase (MPO) and adenosine-deaminase (ADA) activities and the nitric oxide (NO(x)), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) levels. In addition, Iso and Rut reduced the TNF-α and IL-1ß mRNA expression levels and significantly decreased NF-κB p65 phosphorylation. CONCLUSION: The results show that P. molluginifolia has a significant anti-inflammatory action and that this effect is due, at least in part, to the presence of Iso and Rut in large amounts. Moreover, this effect was found to be closely related to the inhibitory effects of the isolated compounds on the NF-κB pathway.

Chemical constituents and evaluation of the toxic and antioxidant activities of Averrhoa carambola leaves

The liquid-liquid partitioning of a crude hydroalcoholic extract of Averrhoa carambola L., Oxalidaceae, leaves led to the isolation of a sterol and three flavone C-glycosides. From the n-hexane fraction β-sitosterol was isolated and from the ethyl acetate fraction apigenin-6-C-β-L-fucopyranoside (1) and apigenin6-C-(2"-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-L-fucopyranoside (2) were obtained. Apigenin6-C-(2"-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) was isolated from the n-butanol fraction. Compound 3 is new, while 1 and 2 have been previously isolated from A. carambola. The antioxidant activity was measured using the DPPH radical scavenging assay and reducing power of iron (III) to iron (II) ions. The ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions showed the most antioxidant activity. As evaluated by ability of the sample to scavenge DPPH the IC50 values were 90.92 and 124.48 µg/ mL, respectively. In the assay of reducing power these fractions presented 135.64 and 125.12 of ascorbic acid equivalents, respectively. The antioxidant activity exhibited a significant relationship with the phenolic content (r² = 0.997), but a poor relationship with the flavonoids content (r² = 0.424). The n-hexane fraction was the only fraction to present good toxicity using A. salina with LC50 800.2 µg/mL.