Beneficial effect of Ageratum conyzoides Linn (Asteraceae) upon inflammatory response induced by carrageenan into the mice pleural cavity.
BACKGROUND
Ageratum conyzoides Linn (Asteraceae), a tropical plant that is very common in West Africa and some parts of Asia and South America, has been used to treat inflammatory disorders. In Brazil, teas made from A. conyzoides L. are used as anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-diarrheic agents. Therefore, it is necessary to study the mechanism of anti-inflammatory action of A. conyzoides L. to support its medicinal use for treating inflammatory conditions. These studies will also support the development of effective pharmacological agents with potent anti-inflammatory properties.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of the crude extract (CE), its derived fractions: ethanol (EtOH-F), hexane (HEX-F), ethyl acetate (EtOAc-F) and dichloromethane (DCM-F) and isolated compounds, such as 5'-methoxy nobiletin (MeONOB), 1,2-benzopyrone and eupalestin, which are obtained from the aerial parts of A. conyzoides L.


METHODS
These evaluations were performed using an animal model of inflammation induced by carrageenan. The following inflammatory parameters were analysed: leukocyte influx, protein concentration of the exudate, myeloperoxidase (MPO), adenosine deaminase (ADA) and nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) concentrations, interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin 17A (IL-17A), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and phosphorylation of p65 subunit of NF-κB (p-p65 NF-κB), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p-p38 MAPK) were also analysed.


RESULTS
CE, its EtOH-F, HEX-F, EtOAc-F and DCM-F and the isolated compounds, including MeONOB, 1,2-benzopyrone and eupalestin, significantly reduced leukocyte influx, protein concentration of the exudate, MPO, ADA, and NOx concentrations (p<0.05). CE, EtOH-F and isolated compounds significantly reduced IL-17A, IL-6, TNF and IFN-γ levels (p<0.05). CE, EtOH-F and isolated compound 1,2-benzopyrone also increased IL-10 levels (p<0.05). Isolated compounds, MeONOB, 1,2-benzopyrone and eupalestin, reduced p-p65 NF-κB and p-p38 MAPK (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that A. conyzoides L. exerts its important anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting leukocyte influx and protein concentration of the exudate, as well as reducing the levels of several pro-inflammatory mediators. The anti-inflammatory action of A. conyzoides L. may be because of the inhibition of p65 NF-κB and MAPK activation by the isolated compounds.
Department of Clinical Analysis, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
Silvana Virgínia Gagliotti
SV
Vigil de Mello
Department of Clinical Analysis, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
Julia Salvan
JS
da Rosa
Department of Clinical Analysis, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
Bruno Matheus
BM
Facchin
Department of Clinical Analysis, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
Ana Beatriz Gobbo
AB
Luz
Department of Clinical Analysis, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
Geison
G
Vicente
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
Larissa Gabriela
LG
Faqueti
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
Daniela Weingartner
DW
Rosa
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil.
Maique Weber
MW
Biavatti
Department of Clinical Analysis, Center of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil. Electronic address: tania.frode@ufsc.br.
Tânia Silvia
TS
Fröde
D031163:Ageratum / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000633:toxicity*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D035422:Pleural Cavity / Q000187:drug effects*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002351:Carrageenan
1,2-Benzopyrone (PubChem CID: 323); 5′-Methoxy nobiletin (PubChem CID: 72815); Ageratum conyzoides Linn (Asteraceae); Anti-inflammatory effects; Eupalestin (PubChem CID: 331149); MAPK; NF-Kappa B; Pro-inflammatory mediators