Effects of Amburoside A and Isokaempferide, Polyphenols from Amburana cearensis, on Rodent Inflammatory Processes and Myeloperoxidase Activity in Human Neutrophils

Abstract

The present study evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of amburoside A (a phenol glucoside) and isokaempferide (a flavonol) isolated from the trunk bark of Amburana cearensis, a medicinal plant used in northeast Brazil for the treatment of asthma. Animals (male Wistar rats or Swiss mice) pre-treated with amburoside A (25 and 50 mg/kg) or isokaempferide (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg), orally or intraperitoneally, showed a significant inhibition of the paw oedema induced by carrageenan (1%), prostaglandin E(2) (30 nmol/paw), histamine (200 microg/paw) or serotonin (200 microg/paw). Histological and morphometric evaluations of the rat paw oedema induced by carrageenan showed that amburoside A and isokaempferide also inhibited the accumulation of inflammatory cells. Amburoside A reduced significantly the paw oedema and the increase in vascular permeability induced by dextran, as related to the control group. Similar results were observed with the isokaempferide pre-treatment. Furthermore, amburoside A or isokaempferide inhibited both leucocyte and neutrophil migrations, in mouse peritoneal cavity, after the carrageenan injection. The polyphenols were not cytotoxic and blocked N-formyl-methyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-induced myeloperoxidase release and activity in human neutrophils. In addition, amburoside A and isokaempferide at 50 and 100 microg/ml concentrations reduced significantly the lipopolysaccharide-mediated increase in tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels. These results provide, for the first time, evidence to support the anti-inflammatory activity of amburoside A and isokaempferide that seems to be related to an inhibition of inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-alpha, as well as histamine, serotonin and prostaglandin E(2), besides leucocyte infiltration in a dose- or concentration-dependent manner. These anti-inflammatory effects can be explained, at least in part, by the ability of these compounds to reduce neutrophil degranulation, myeloperoxidase activity, mediators as well as TNF-alpha secretion.

Potencial terapêutico e uso de plantas medicinais em uma área de Caatinga no estado do Ceará, nordeste do Brasil

“…P. amboinicus no estudo de apresentou atividade antimicrobiana, sendo eficaz contra enfermidades que acometem o sistema respiratório (garganta inflamada). Em relação à espécie nativa dentro desta categoria, A. cearensis, endêmica do ecossistema de caatinga, foi citada para o tratamento de gripe e inflamações, o que coincide com o estudo de Leal et al, (2008), no qual demonstra que a casca do caule desta espécie tem atividade broncodilatadora e anti-inflamatória. Doenças de Pele e do Tecido Celular Subcutâneo (DPTCS) estiveram relacionadas com a espécie Ziziphus joazeiro sendo a mais utilizada para caspa e tratamento capilar.…”

Medicinal plants at the Sítio do Gois, Apodi, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil

“…A. cearensis was the most frequently cited plant in two other studies conducted in Rio Grande do Norte State (Roque et al, 2010;Silva & Freire 2010). This species has anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant and antioxidant (Leal et al, 2009), which explains at least in part the traditional use of A. cearensis in the treatment of respiratory diseases where the pathophysiological characteristics include inflammation, oxidative stress and bronchoconstriction.…”

Efficacy and safety of cumaru syrup as complementary therapy in mild persistent asthma: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study

“…Furthermore, previous studies reported antinociceptive and antioxidant properties of the hydroalcoholic extract and chemical constituents of this plant (Leal et al, 2009;Leal et al, 2005).…”

“…Anti-inflammatory effects can be explained, at least in part, by the ability of these compounds to reduce neutrophil degranulation, myeloperoxidase activity, as well as TNF-alpha secretion (Leal et al, 2009).…”