An aqueous extract of Ilex paraguariensis reduces carrageenan-induced edema and inhibits the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in animal models of inflammation.

Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is a highly popular herbal beverage in South America due to its high content of caffeine. Its hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties are of increasing interest in the treatment of cardiovascular disorders and for weight control. In the present study, we show for the first time both the local and systemic anti-inflammatory effects of an aqueous extract of mate in three classic in vivo models, namely acute and chronic 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-induced mouse ear edema and acute carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema. Caffeine, rutin, chlorogenic acid, 3,5-dicafeoyl quinic acid, and 4,5-dicafeoyl quinic acid, accompanied by a complex mixture of other simple phenolic acids, were identified in the extract by HPLC-UV analyses. In the acute edema model, mate extract applied topically (1 mg/ear) halved the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-induced acute edema (50 %) and almost suppressed neutrophil infiltration (93 %), while in the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-induced subchronic inflammation, the edema was significantly reduced by 62 % (1 mg/ear/day × seven doses). The oral administration of the mate extract (250 mg/kg) significantly reduced the carrageenan-induced edema at all time points, an effect which was accompanied by a 43 % and 53 % reduction of the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase, respectively. Histological analyses confirmed a reduction of epithelium thickness, dermis with mild inflammation, hair follicles with some secretory cells of sebaceous glands, and hypodermic adipocytes. In conclusion, mate is endowed with in vivo preventative or therapeutic anti-inflammatory effects in both local and systemic inflammatory processes.

Actividad antioxidante del isoespintanol en diferentes medios / Antioxidant activity of Isoespintanol in different media

Se midió la actividad antioxidante del isoespintanol (2-Isopropil-3,6-dimetoxi-5-metilfenol), aislado de las hojas Oxandra cf xylopiodes, en diferentes modelos. Los resultados indican que el isoespintanol es un mejor reductor que el BHT en el ensayo FRAP. En los sistemas emulsificados decoloacion de B-caroteno y peroxidación lipídica inducida por Fe/ascorbato y en el ensayo cinético de DPPH, el isoespintanol y BHT tienen comportamientos antioxidantes similares. El BHT es un mejor atrapador de los radicales libres DPHH y ABTS. Isoespintanoly BHT no atrapan el radical superóxido y no inhiben significativamente la xantina oxidasa

Anti-inflammatory and apoptotic activities of pomolic acid isolated from Cecropia pachystachya.

The dichloromethane extract and pomolic acid ( 5) obtained from leaves of Cecropia pachystachya both reduced carrageenan-induced paw oedema in mice. Interestingly, while the triterpenoid inhibited the in vivo production of interleukin-1beta by 39 %, it had no effect on tumour necrosis factor-alpha production. We also demonstrated that both the dichloromethane extract and 5 inhibited the viability of human polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. The PMN membrane integrity was determined with the aid of flow cytometry by means of the exclusion of propidium iodide as assay. Although the cell membrane integrity was altered, neither the extract nor 5 produced cellular necrosis. Moreover, the development of hypodiploid nuclei and DNA fragmentation in the PMN cells were both dependent on dose and time. Finally, in the annexin V-FITC binding assay, compound 5 increased the total of apoptotic cells by 42 % at 100 microM and by 71 % at 200 microM with respect to the control group. In conclusion, both the dichloromethane extract of ambay and isolated compound 5 inhibit the viability of PMN cells through apoptosis. Since they can regulate human neutrophil functions in this way, it is likely that these substances can also limit inflammation.

Tiliroside and gnaphaliin inhibit human low density lipoprotein oxidation.

Two flavonoids, gnaphaliin and tiliroside, isolated from Helichrysum italicum, were studied in vitro for their capacity to inhibit Cu(2+)-induced human low density lipoprotein (LDL) and diluted plasma oxidation. LDL oxidation was monitored by conjugated diene, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) formation and electrophoretic mobility on agarose gel. Gnaphaliin and tiliroside increased the lag-phase for diene conjugate production in a dose-dependent manner. The reduction of TBARS production confirmed the antioxidant activity of gnaphaliin and tiliroside with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values of 8.0+/-3.9 microM and 7.0+/-2.6 microM respectively. Furthermore, the flavonoids negated the Cu(2+)-induced increase in electrophoretic mobility of LDL. Antioxidant activity of gnaphaliin and tiliroside was significantly different when diluted plasma was oxidised by adding 1 mM CuSO(4). Although both flavonoids again reduced the TBARS production, tiliroside showed higher activity than gnaphaliin (IC(50)=10.6+/-2.5 microM vs. IC(50)>50 microM). In conclusion, tiliroside and gnaphaliin are antioxidants against in vitro Cu(2+)-induced LDL oxidation in the same order of magnitude compared to that of the reference drug, probucol.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Helichrysum italicum.

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the aerial part of Helichrysum italicum extracts have been established in various in-vivo and in-vitro experimental models. The results obtained on the acute oedemas induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) and ethyl phenylpropiolate in the mouse ear, by serotonin and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) in the mouse paw, on chronic inflammation induced by repeated application of TPA in the mouse ear and on the delayed-type hypersensitivity induced by sheep red blood cells suggest that said anti-inflammatory activity is due to the effects of compounds expressed via a corticoid-like mechanism. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the extracts seems to be implicated in this anti-inflammatory activity, as the former inhibits enzymatic and non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation and has free-radical scavenger properties. We conclude that the anti-inflammatory activity of Helichrysum italicum can be explained by multiple effects, including inflammatory enzyme inhibition, free-radical scavenging activity and corticoid-like effects.

Efecto de la suplementación dietética con ácido gama-linolénico sobre el crecimiento de un carcinoma de pulmón humano implantado en ratones atímicos / Effect of dietary supplementation with gamma-linolenic acid on the growth of a human lung carcinoma implanted in nude mice

Se estudió el efecto de una dieta suplementada con ácido gama-linolénico (18:3 n-6, GLA) sobre el crecimiento de un tumor mucoepidermoide de pulmón humano (HLMC) implantado en ratones atímicos y sobre la captación por el mismo de lipoproteínas de baja densidad humana marcadas con 99mTc (99mTc-LDL). Los ratones portadores de HLMC se dividieron en dos grupos experimentales, uno que recibió dieta control (dieta C) y el otro, dieta suplementada con GLA (dieta GLA), durante tres semanas. Se observó una marcada inhibición del crecimiento tumoral al finalizar el tratamiento. La dieta enriquecida en GLA indujo cambios en la composición en ácidos grasos totales del tumor y del plasma e hígado de los ratones huéspedes. Los tumores de los animales alimentados con ambas dietas captaron radiactividad de las 99mTc-LDL y no se observaron diferencias significativas en la relación entre la captación por el tumor y por el hígado y riñón de los animales huéspedes. Los resultados obtenidos utilizando este modelo experimental sugieren que el efecto inhibitorio del GLA sobre el crecimiento tumoral es independiente de la captación de LDL por parte del tumor.(AU)

Efecto de la suplementación dietética con ácido gama-linolénico sobre el crecimiento de un carcinoma de pulmón humano implantado en ratones atímicos / Effect of dietary supplementation with gamma-linolenic acid on the growth of a human lung carcinoma implanted in nude mice

Se estudió el efecto de una dieta suplementada con ácido gama-linolénico (18:3 n-6, GLA) sobre el crecimiento de un tumor mucoepidermoide de pulmón humano (HLMC) implantado en ratones atímicos y sobre la captación por el mismo de lipoproteínas de baja densidad humana marcadas con 99mTc (99mTc-LDL). Los ratones portadores de HLMC se dividieron en dos grupos experimentales, uno que recibió dieta control (dieta C) y el otro, dieta suplementada con GLA (dieta GLA), durante tres semanas. Se observó una marcada inhibición del crecimiento tumoral al finalizar el tratamiento. La dieta enriquecida en GLA indujo cambios en la composición en ácidos grasos totales del tumor y del plasma e hígado de los ratones huéspedes. Los tumores de los animales alimentados con ambas dietas captaron radiactividad de las 99mTc-LDL y no se observaron diferencias significativas en la relación entre la captación por el tumor y por el hígado y riñón de los animales huéspedes. Los resultados obtenidos utilizando este modelo experimental sugieren que el efecto inhibitorio del GLA sobre el crecimiento tumoral es independiente de la captación de LDL por parte del tumor.