Principles of the bark of Amphipterygium adstringens (Julianaceae) with anti-inflammatory activity.

Despite the fact that Amphipterygium adstringens (usually known as "cuachalalate") is used intensively in traditional medicine throughout México, there are, to our knowledge, no previous studies concerning the actual therapeutic, anti-inflammatory properties of this species. This lack of data prompted us to evaluate the aqueous (AE) and hexane (HE) extracts from A. adstringens in two models of acute inflammation: 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced ear edema and carrageenan-induced paw edema. The results showed that HE possesses dose-dependent activity, while AE showed no anti-inflammatory effect on TPA-induced edema. Reverse effects were found in the carrageenan test, wherein AE showed a 73.5% of inhibition of edema, while HE showed only a 14.4% activity at 100 mg/kg body weight. These results could indicate that AE and HE possess different anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action. On the other hand, it is known that masticadienonic (1) and 3alpha-hydroxymasticadienonic (2) acids are the main constituents of the organic extract of A. adstringens bark. Because of this knowledge, we tested 1 and 2 in the same experimental models. The results showed that 2 possesses a dose-dependent effect, while 1 does not show a dose-dependent response in TPA-induced edema. In carrageenan-induced edema tests, both 1 and 2 showed almost the same activity (approximately 44% inhibition at 100 mg/kg body weight). In order to determine whether the anti-inflammatory activities of AE, HE, 1 and 2 are involved in the alteration of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity, we evaluated these substances by examining nitric oxide generation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated peritoneal macrophages. The results showed that 1 presented the highest activity (93.3%), followed by 2 (86.5%), while AE (57%) and HE (33.6%) showed the lowest. In the cytotoxic MTT assay, however only 1 and 2 showed any activity whatsoever.

Antiinflammatory constituents from Heterotheca inuloides.

Three new compounds, cadalen-15-oic acid (1), 3,7-dihydroxy-3(4H)-isocadalen-4-one (2), and dicadalenol (3), were isolated from the aerial parts of Heterotheca inuloides (Mexican arnica), together with the known compounds 7-hydroxycadalene (4), 7-hydroxy-4alphaH-3,4-dihydrocadalene (5), 1alpha-hydroxy-1(4H)-isocadalen-4-one (6), 1alpha-hydroxy-4alphaH-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrocadalen-15-oic acid (7), 7-(3,3-dimethylallyloxy)coumarin, caryolan-1,9beta-diol, and quercetin. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The antiinflammatory activities of the extracts and the isolated compounds were evaluated by determining the inhibition of TPA-induced mouse ear edema. The natural products 3, caryolan-1,9beta-diol, and quercetin were the most active substances tested and displayed dose-dependent activities.

Anti-inflammatory activity of coumarins from Decatropis bicolor on TPA ear mice model.

From the aerial parts of Decatropis bicolor, heraclenin (1), seselin (2), psoralen (3), imperatorin (4), skimmianine (5), and heraclenol (6), were isolated. This is the first time that coumarin-like compounds are isolated from Decatropis genus. The anti-inflammatory properties of compounds 1-6 were examined against the ear edema in mice produced by TPA. The results suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of each compound depends of its individual substitution on the aromatic ring rather than the coumarin skeleton itself.

A comparative study of the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of pectolinarin isolated from Cirsium subcoriaceum and linarin isolated from Buddleia cordata.

The dried aqueous extract of aerial parts of Cirsium subcoriaceum (Asteraceae) and its major flavonoid glycoside, pectolinarin, have been evaluated for analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in mice and rats, respectively. Both the extract and pectolinarin exerted significant and dose-dependent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Also, the anti-inflammatory activities of an aqueous extract of Buddleia cordata and its principal glycoside linarin were evaluated. The results of pharmacological testing proved that linarin is a better anti-inflammatory agent than pectolinarin and indomethacin. On the other hand, pectolinarin exerted a better analgesic effect than linarin.

Analgesic and antipyretic activities of an aqueous extract and of the flavone linarin of Buddleia cordata.

The dried aqueous extract of leaves of Buddleia cordata (loganiaceae) and its main flavonoid glycoside, linarin, have been evaluated for analgesic and antipyretic effects in mice and rats, respectively. Both the extract and linarin exerted significant and dose-dependent analgesic and antipyretic activities, the first being obtained against a chemical stimulus (writhing a test in mice) and the second being obtained by a pyretogenic stimulus (yeast-induced hyperthermia test). Furthermore, the response of the animals in the hot plate test was modified by linarin and an aqueous extract. These activities were similar to that showed by morphine sulfate (MS) and they were inhibited by naxolone pretreatment, a specific morphinic antagonist compound. These findings lead to the conclusion that the aqueous extract and linarin exert central analgesic properties. On the other hand, linarin was shown to be responsible for the antipyretic activity of this species.