In vivo anti-inflammatory and in vitro antioxidant activities of Mediterranean dietary plants.
Five hydroalcoholic extracts of edible plants from Calabria region (Italy) used in local traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases were evaluated for their in vivo topical anti-inflammatory activity (inhibition of croton oil-induced ear oedema in mice) and in vitro antioxidant and antiradical properties (inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation and bovine brain liposomes peroxidation, DPPH radical scavenging). All the extracts showed an anti-inflammatory effect: 300 microg/cm(2) provoked oedema reductions ranging from 21 to 27%. All the extracts exerted also radical scavenging and/or antioxidant properties, the most active plant being Mentha aquatica L. (Lamiaceae) which contained the highest amount of phenolics (337 mg/g) and of flavonoids (15.75 mg/g). Moreover, the content and the composition of sterols were assessed by GC-MS in the examined plants Borago officinalis L. (Boraginaceae) contained the highest number of sterols.
Conforti
Filomena
F
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Calabria, Italy. filomena.conforti@unical.it
Sosa
Silvio
S
Marrelli
Mariangela
M
Menichini
Federica
F
Statti
Giancarlo A
GA
Uzunov
Dimitar
D
Tubaro
Aurelia
A
Menichini
Francesco
F
Loggia
Roberto Della
RD
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000737:chemistry
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010636:Phenols; D010840:Phytosterols; D010936:Plant Extracts