ABSTRACT
Vernonia polyanthes Less. (Asteraceae), popularly known as "assa-peixe", is a plant species used in Brazilian traditional medicine for the treatment of cutaneous damage, cicatrization, inflammation, and rheumatism. Based on these ethnopharmacological findings, the current study evaluated the topical anti-inflammatory effects of the hexane (HEVP) and ethyl acetate (EAEVP) extracts from V. polyanthes leaves in experimental models of skin inflammation. Chemical characterization was carried out by HPLC-UV/DAD analysis. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using Croton oil-, arachidonic acid (AA)-, phenol-, ethyl phenylpropiolate (EPP)-, and capsaicin-induced ear edema models in mice. Histopathological evaluation and measurements of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and N-acetyl-ß-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) enzymes were also performed. Rutin, luteolin, and apigenin were identified in EAEVP. Topically applied HEVP and EAEVP significantly (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 or p < 0.001) reduced edema induced by five different irritants at the doses tested (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/ear). Histopathological analysis revealed a reduction of edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, and vasodilation. In addition, the enzymes activity (MPO and NAG) in the ear tissues was reduced by the topical treatment of HEVP and EAEVP (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 or p < 0.001). The results suggest that V. polyanthes leaves are effective against cutaneous damage, which support its traditional use and open up new possibilities for the treatment of skin disorders.
Subject(s)
Inflammation/drug therapy , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Skin/drug effects , Vernonia/chemistry , Acetates/chemistry , Administration, Topical , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents , Brazil , Hexanes/chemistry , Humans , Inflammation/pathology , Medicine, Traditional , Mice , Phytotherapy , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Skin/pathologyABSTRACT
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken (Crassulaceae), popularly known in Brazil as "folha-da-fortuna", is a plant species used in folk medicine for the external and internal treatment of inflammation, infection, wound, burn, boil, ulcers and gastritis, and several other diseases. The present study aimed to perform the chemical characterization and the evaluation of the topical anti-inflammatory effect of the ethanol extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum leaves (EEBP) in acute and chronic mice ear edema models induced by different irritant agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The EEBP chemical characterization was performed by HPLC-UV DAD. Ear edema on Swiss mice was induced by the topical application of Croton oil (single and multiple applications), arachidonic acid, phenol, capsaicin and ethyl phenylpropiolate (EPP). The topical anti-inflammatory effect of EEBP was evaluated by measuring the ear weight (acute inflammation models) and thickness (chronic inflammation model). Histopathological analyses of ear tissue samples sensitized with Croton oil (single and multiple applications) were also performed. RESULTS: The flavonoids rutin, quercetin, luteolin and luteolin7-O-ß-d-glucoside were detected in EEBP. Topical application of EEBP significantly (P<0.001) inhibited the ear edema induced by Croton oil single application (inhibition of 57%), arachidonic acid (inhibition of 67%), phenol (inhibition of 80%), capsaicin (inhibition of 72%), EPP (inhibition of 75%) and Croton oil multiple application (55% after 9 days). Histopathological analyses confirmed the topical anti-inflammatory effect of EEBP since it was observed reduction of edema, epidermal hyperplasia, inflammatory cells infiltration and vasodilation. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that EEBP is effective as a topical anti-inflammatory agent in acute and chronic inflammatory processes possibly due to inhibition of arachidonic acid pathway, which justify the traditional use of Bryophyllum pinnatum as a remedy for skin disorders.
