Anti-TNF-α Activity of Brazilian Medicinal Plants and Compounds fromOuratea semiserrata

Abstract

Several plant species are used in Brazil to treat inflammatory diseases and associated conditions. TNF-α plays a pivotal role on inflammation, and several plant extracts have been assayed against this target, both in vitro and in vivo. The effect of 11 Brazilian medicinal plants on TNF-α release by LPS-activated THP-1 cells was evaluated. The plant materials were percolated with different solvents to afford 15 crude extracts, whose effect on TNF-α release was determined by ELISA. Among the evaluated extracts, only Jacaranda caroba (Bignoniaceae) presented strong toxicity to THP-1 cells. Considering the 14 non-toxic extracts, TNF-α release was significantly reduced by seven of them (inhibition > 80%), originating from six plants, namely Cuphea carthagenensis (Lythraceae), Echinodorus grandiflorus (Alismataceae), Mansoa hirsuta (Bignoniaceae), Ouratea semiserrata (Ochnaceae), Ouratea spectabilis and Remijia ferruginea (Rubiaceae). The ethanol extract from O. semiserrata leaves was fractionated over Sephadex LH-20 and RP-HPLC to give three compounds previously reported for the species, along with agathisflavone and epicatechin, here described for the first time in the plant. Epicatechin and lanceoloside A elicited significant inhibition of TNF-α release, indicating that they may account for the effect produced by O. semiserrata crude extract.

(3,3″)-Linked Biflavanones from Ouratea spectabilis and Their Effects on the Release of Proinflammatory Cytokines in THP-1 Cells

“…The effect of the extract and isolated compounds on the release of TNF-α, IL-1β, and CCL2 by LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells was assayed in vitro, as previously described. , THP-1 cells were cultured as previously described. Aliquots (100 μL) of the sample solutions, prepared in culture medium at 10, 30, and 90 μM, were added to microplate wells following incubation at 37 °C for 3 h. Next, 10 μL of an LPS solution (1 μg/mL) was added to each well, and the plate was sealed and incubated at 37 °C for 18 h. The culture plate was centrifuged (1800 g , 5 min, 16 °C), and the supernatant was removed for quantification of TNF-α, IL-1β, and CCL2 by ELISA using commercial kits (R&D Systems).…”

“…The leaf extract showed antiviral activity against human herpes virus type 1 (HSV-1) . No phytochemical investigation has been reported for the bark extract of O. spectabilis , but a previous report demonstrated the inhibitory activity of an EtOH extract on TNF release by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated THP-1 cells, indicating its potential anti-inflammatory activity …”

Phytochemical prospection of the floral extract of Ouratea spectabilis (Mart.) Engl. (Ochnaceae)

“…Molecules isolated from the leaf extract of O. spectabilis showed an inhibitory effect on aldose reductase (AR) from two phytocompounds. The extract from the trunk of O. spectabilis demonstrated in a study, activity of inhibiting TNF release by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated THP-1 cells, indicating its potential anti-inflammatory activity (Campana et al, 2015).…”

Chitosan Film Containing Mansoa hirsuta Fraction for Wound Healing

“…Such components include phenols, tannins, steroids, triterpenes, saponins, flavonols, flavanonols, flavanones, xanthones, anthocyanins, anthocyanidins, and flavonoids [ 18 ]. Some biological activities have been reported for this species, which include inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and cyclooxygenase-1 [ 19 , 20 ] as well as anti-hypertensive [ 21 ], antifungal [ 22 ], and antioxidant activities [ 18 ]. Therefore, M. hirsuta represents a potential source of phytochemicals against inflammatory and others pathologies [ 18 ].…”