title: Potent anti-inflammatory activity of sesquiterpene lactones from Neurolaena lobata (L.) R. Br. ex Cass., a Q'eqchi' Maya traditional medicine.
abstract: The widespread use of Neurolaena lobata (L.) R. Br. ex Cass. by Q'eqchi' Maya and indigenous healers throughout the Caribbean for inflammatory conditions prompted the study of the anti-inflammatory activity of this traditional medicine. The objectives of this study were to conduct a detailed ethnobotanical investigation of the uses of N. lobata by the Q'eqchi' Maya of Belize for a variety of inflammatory symptoms and to evaluate the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of leaf extract and isolated sesquiterpene lactones. The crude 80% EtOH extract of N. lobata leaves administered at 100 μg/mL reduced LPS-stimulated TNF-α production in THP-1 monocytes by 72% relative to the stimulated vehicle control. Isolated sesquiterpene lactones, neurolenins B, C+D, lobatin B and 9α-hydroxy-8β-isovalerianyloxy-calyculatolide were more active (IC50=0.17-2.32 μM) than the positive control parthenolide (IC50=4.79 μM). The results provide a pharmacological and phytochemical basis for the traditional use of this leaf for inflammatory conditions.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Biotechnology and Biopharmaceuticals, Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1N 6N5.
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Walshe-Roussel
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Choueiri
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.forename: Muhammd
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asim
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caal
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cal
authors.forename: Marco Otarola
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pesek
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Durst
authors.forename: John Thor
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Arnason
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha