title: Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Pittocaulon species from México.
abstract: context: Stems and leaves of Pittocaulon spp. (Asteraceae) are used in Mexican traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory substance and for the treatment of skin injuries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the antioxidant activity of methanol (MeOH) and dichloromethane (DC) extracts of five Pittocaulon species.
  
  
  METHODS
  DC and MeOH extracts from flowers, roots, and stems of Pittocaulon praecox (Cav.) H. Rob. & Brettell, P. bombycophole (Bullock) H. Rob. & Brettell, P. filare (Mc Vaugh) H. Rob. & Brettell, P. velatum (Greenm.) Rob. & Brettell and P. hintonii H. Rob. & Brettell.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, the flower extracts obtained with MeOH were the most active with IC(50) values ranging from 51.83 ± 4.08 to 154.19 ± 8.39 ppm. In the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) model, the best activity was shown by DC extracts of roots with IC(50) values ranging from 55.54 ± 1.28 to 160.82 ± 5.37 ppm. The MeOH extract of flowers of P. bombycophole had the highest IC(50) value in both DPPH (51.83 ± 4.08 ppm) and TBARS (39.78 ± 1.97 ppm). The samples with the best values in the antioxidant activity assays were evaluated in the anti-inflammatory tests. The DC root extract of P. velatum at a dose of 1 mg/ear produced the greatest reduction (84.96%) of the 2-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema. This extract also reduced the activity of the enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO) (73.65%) at the same dose. In contrast, DC root extract of this species did not show significant inhibition of the increase in paw edema induced by carrageenan at the doses tested (100 mg/kg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results support the traditional use of these plants as anti-inflammatory. DC extracts of P. velatum and MeOH extracts of P. bombycophole may be a potential resource of natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, respectively. Additional studies must be done to identify the compounds responsible of the activity on these plants and to establish the mechanism of action.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 30 No. 45-03, Edificio 450, Oficina 107, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: J Camilo
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Marín-Loaiza
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nieto-Camacho
authors.forename: Carlos L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Céspedes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002351:Carrageenan; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D035264:Flowers; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D008752:Methylene Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D008800:Mexico; D051379:Mice; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010851:Picrates / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D018547:Plant Stems; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D008752:Methylene Chloride; D002351:Carrageenan; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D009195:Peroxidase; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D000432:Methanol