Abstract
BackgroundStem bark of Luehea ochrophylla (L. ochrophylla) is used by the traditional Brazilian medicine for treatment of rheumatic diseases and tumors. This study aimed to investigate inhibition of acute and chronic inflammations and cytotoxic activity of extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds from L. ochrophylla.MethodsHexane (HE) and ethanol (EE) extracts obtained from stem bark of L. ochrophylla were submitted to chromatographic fractionation. In order to test acute inflammation, experimental model of impact injury was used, followed by transdermal application of gels using phonophoresis. Histological analysis was based on scores assigned by the capacity of decreasing the lesion. To evaluate the effect EE and fractions on cell proliferation, human lymphocytes were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin and analyzed using flow cytometry. Proliferation was measured using VPD 450 staining and the calculated proliferative index (PI). The cytotoxic activity was evaluated using MTT colorimetric method against MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, HCT-116, and Vero cells. GraphPad Prism Version 5 was used for statistical analysis.ResultsHE and EE provided friedelin, β-friedelinol, lupeol, mixture of lupeol and pseudotaraxasterol, β-sitosterol, betulinic acid, mixture of lupeol and taraxasterol, (−)-epicatechin, β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and (+)-epicatechin-(4β-8)-epicatechin. HE, ethyl acetate fraction (AF), betulinic acid, and β-sitosterol promoted regeneration of muscle fibers caused by muscle injury. AF significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the lymphocyte proliferation index (1.36 for cultures stimulated with PHA, 0.7 for untreated cultures and 0.12 for cultures stimulated with PHA and treated with AF 25 μg/mL and AF 50 μg/mL, respectively). β-Sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside exhibited high cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 1.279 μg/mL) against HCT-116 cell line.ConclusionThese results suggest that extracts, fractions, and chemical constituents from L. ochrophylla decreases inflammatory processes generated by muscle injury. The anti-inflammatory activity may be justified by high inhibition of T cell proliferation. These extracts, fractions, and chemical constituents from L. ochrophylla may be useful as a therapeutic agent against rheumatic diseases. Moreover, chemical constituents from L. ochrophylla show potent cytotoxic activity against colon and rectal carcinomas.
Highlights
Stem bark of Luehea ochrophylla (L. ochrophylla) is used by the traditional Brazilian medicine for treatment of rheumatic diseases and tumors
Anti-inflammatory tests Transdermal drug application Evaluating the activity of HE, acetate fraction (AF) and compounds isolated from stem bark of L. ochrophylla on an acute inflammation model, it was performed histological analysis for the characterization of lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrates, edema, and degeneration of muscle fibers
Different letters in the same column indicate significant difference when (P < 0.05) after one-way ANOVA test with Tukey’s post hoc of levels of exudates at the site of inflammation in model of induced pleurisy with carrageenan [26]. Such antiinflammatory effects presented by betulinic acid are justified by inhibiting the release of pro-inflammatory mediators, mainly NO, IL-1β, TNF-α, and reduction of COX-2 levels [26, 27]. β-Sitosterol exhibits anti-inflamatory activity by inhibiting ear edema induced by xylene [28], besides to reduce migration of leukocyte, neutrophils and the activity of myeloperoxidase and adenosine deaminase enzymes [29]
Summary
Stem bark of Luehea ochrophylla (L. ochrophylla) is used by the traditional Brazilian medicine for treatment of rheumatic diseases and tumors. Inflammation is a response to tissue damage, which plays a role in the elimination of pathogens, neutralization of endotoxins and repair of injuries. Innate immune system is the first line of defense of the organisms against pathogens and toxins. This system involves several strategies based on the recognition of molecular patterns deciphered by receptors that either induce or inhibit an immune response. Immune cells, such as neutrophils, dendritic cells, monocytes, and fully differentiated tissue-resident macrophages, are the primary cells involved in acute inflammation [3]
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