Anti-inflammatory and Anti-diabetic Activity of Ballota L. species grown in Turkey

Abstract

Background and Aims: Ballota is represented by 12 species and 16 taxa in Turkey. Eleven of the 16 taxa are endemic to Turkey. Ballota have been used in different treatments in folk medicine. Anti-inflammatory drugs act by protecting lysosomal membrane integrity or inhibiting enzymes of prostaglandins and thromboxane inflammatory mediators synthesized by deactivating of cyclooxygenase (COX), COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. Besides, degradation of lysosomal membrane brings on the release inflammatory mediators so human red blood cells (HRBC) can be used for evaluating of anti-inflammatory activity. One of the treatment approaches of diabetes mellitus is α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition. These enzymes play an important role in glucose releasing from carbohydrates. Due to the adverse effects of synthetic drugs, natural α-glucosidase inhibitors have been discussed as therapeutic agents to manage diabetes mellitus. In the light of the traditional use of Ballota species, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities of the ethanol and aqueous extracts from the aerial parts of 14 Ballota taxa. Methods: HRBC membrane stabilizing and α-glucosidase inhibitory methods are used for determining anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities of 14 Ballota taxa, respectively. Results: According to our results, the ethanolic extracts showed higher membrane stabilization profile than aqueous extracts generally. And for anti-diabetic activity, it is concluded that aqueous and ethanol extracts of Ballota glandulosissima exhibited the maximum α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Conclusion: According to our results, IC50 values of anti-inflammatory effect of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of 14 Ballota samples ranged from 4,30-12,88 and 3,18-20,25 mg/ml, respectively. It is observed that aqueous extracts of Ballota nigra subsp. anatolica exhibited the maximum anti-inflammatory effect. Both aqueous and ethanol extracts of Ballota glandulosissima are found to exhibit the maximum α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 2,18 and 2,30 µg/ml, respectively. Among the ethanolic extracts of Ballota species, the strongest α-glucosidase inhibitory activities are found as B. glandulosissima>B. cristata>B. saxatilis subsp. brachyodonta in descending order.