Guided Analysis of Selected Ethnobotanical Acanthaceous Plants for Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Abstract

Acanthaceous plants have emerged as important therapeutic plants on a global scale, producing biologically active chemical compounds with larvicidal, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties. In traditional Thai medicine, the crude extracts of these plants, including Clinacanthus nutans, Justicia gendarussa, and Rhinacanthus nasutus, have been used to detoxify bug bites and some skin illnesses caused by fungus and viruses. This study argued for investigating acanthaceous plant extracts for alternate advantages such as anti-inflammation. The presence of anti-inflammatory components in extracts was examined using HPLC in order to evaluate their potential. Lupeol, a prospective anti-inflammatory triterpene found in medicinal plants, was employed as a chemical marker. The anti-inflammatory activities of extracts containing the active chemical were studied utilizing protein denaturation and inhibition of nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with LPS. Also, the extract of combined active plants was assessed. Lupeol was detected in the tested extracts in quantities ranging from 0.25 to 1.22% w/w. It was found in the highest concentration in the extract of Clinacanthus nutans and in the lowest concentration in the extract of Justicia gendarussa. All extracts of plants containing the active ingredient exhibited anti-inflammatory effects. Their IC50 values ranged between 0.87 and 29.28 mg/mL. The extract made from a combination of plants that contained lupeol demonstrated the most potent anti-inflammatory effect, with a 0.6-fold difference when compared to diclofenac. This research implied that investigating acanthaceous plant extracts containing this active agent might be more beneficial in the design of herbal recipes with anti-inflammatory characteristics.