Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer activities of Ferula heuffelii root extracts

Abstract

Ferula heuffelii Griseb. ex Heuffel (Apiaceae) is an endemic and rare W. Moesian perennial species, predominantly growing in E. Serbia, and locally in S.E. Romania and E. Bulgaria [1]. Roots of this plant were extracted with CHCl3 and then with MeOH. Antimicrobial activity of CHCl3 and MeOH extracts was tested against 7 standard bacterial strains and two standard strains of yeast Candida albicans using the agar diffusion [2] and broth microdilution methods [3]. The best inhibitory effect (MIC=12.5µg/ml) CHCl3 extract exhibited against Staphylococcus aureus, and MeOH extract against S. aureus and Micrococcus luteus. In assessing anti-inflammatory activity, the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema test was used [4]. MeOH and CHCl3 extracts showed significant dose dependant anti-inflammatory effect (in dose of 100mg/kg p.o. extracts reduced oedema with 84.00% and 64.71%, respectively). These effects were comparable with that of indomethacin (76.00% in dose of 8mg/kg p.o.). Extracts inhibited ethanol-induced gastric ulcers in rats [4] and their activity was comparable with the activity of ranitidine used as a positive control. Gastric damage score for the animals treated with MeOH and CHCl3 extracts (in dose of 100mg/kg p.o.) was 0.50±0.55 and 0.25±0.42, respectively, while the score for the animals treated with ranitidine (in dose of 20mg/kg p.o.) was 0.58±0.49. Statistical analysis was performed by Student's t test for antimicrobial activity and Mann-Whitney U-test for anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcer activity. Preliminary LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of several analogs with elemental composition of C24H30O4. Analysis of tandem mass spectra of these metabolites suggested that they are likely sesquiterpene coumarins.