Abstract
Ipomoea imperati (Convolvulaceae) lives on the sandy shores of the Brazilian coast and in other areas of the world. The anti-inflammatory activity of a methanol-water extract of the leaves of I. imperati was investigated in experimental models of acute and subchronic inflammation. Topical application of the extract (10 mg/ear) inhibited mouse ear edema induced by croton oil (89.0 +/- 1.3% by the lipid fraction with an IC50 of 3.97 mg/ear and 57.0 +/- 1.3% by the aqueous fraction with an IC50 of 3.5 mg/ear) and arachidonic acid (42.0 +/- 2.0% with an IC50 of 4.98 mg/ear and 31.0 +/- 2.0% with an IC50 of 4.72 mg/ear). Phospholipase A2, purified from Apis mellifera bee venom, was also inhibited by the extract (5.0 mg/ml lipid and aqueous fraction) in vitro in a dose-dependent manner (85% by the lipid fraction with an IC50 of 3.22 mg/ml and 25% by the aqueous fraction with an IC50 of 3.43 mg/ml). The methanol-water extract of I. imperati (1000 mg/kg) administered by the oral route also inhibited the formation of cotton pellet-induced granulomas (73.2 +/- 1.2% by the lipid fraction and 56.14 +/- 2.7% by the aqueous fraction) and did not cause gastric mucosal lesions. I. imperati extracts (10 mg/ml) also inhibited in a dose-dependent manner the muscle contractions of guinea pig ileum induced by acetylcholine and histamine (IC50 of 1.60 mg/ml for the lipid fraction and 4.12 mg/ml for the aqueous fraction). These results suggest the use of I. imperati as an anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic agent in traditional medicine.
Highlights
Natural products have served as a source of drugs for centuries, and about half of the pharmaceuticals in use today are derived from natural products [1]
The mouse ear edema reached a maximum at 6 h after croton oil application and 1 h after arachidonic acid application
In the present study we showed that the lipid fraction of the methanol-water I. imperati leaf extract contains the active agent against topical inflammation induced by croton oil and arachidonic acid
Summary
Natural products have served as a source of drugs for centuries, and about half of the pharmaceuticals in use today are derived from natural products [1]. I. imperati blooms from December to April and has white flowers with a yellow throat apex and a purple throat base as a distinctive characteristic [4]. This plant grows well on sandy seashores in tropical climates, especially in Atlantic coastal areas and it is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation (the leaves being employed to treat furunculosis), swelling and wounds, as well as a diuretic [5]. Other species of the family Convolvulaceae such as I. pes-caprae have been reported to have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and antihemolytic properties [6]
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Schedule a callMore From: Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas
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