The Anti-Inflammatory and Antimicrobial Potential of Selected Ethnomedicinal Plants from Sri Lanka.

Mayuri Napagoda,Jana Gerstmeier,Sanjeeva Witharana,Andreas Koeberle,Sybille Lorenz,Oliver Werz,Simona Pace,Sudhara De Soyza,Hannah Butschek,Ajith Nagahawatte,Lalith Jayasinghe,Gaya Wijayaratne,Mallique Qader,Aleš Svatoš

doi:10.3390/molecules25081894

Abstract

Traditional folk medicine in Sri Lanka is mostly based on plants and plant-derived products, however, many of these medicinal plant species are scientifically unexplored. Here, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial potency of 28 different extracts prepared from seven popular medicinal plant species employed in Sri Lanka. The extracts were subjected to cell-based and cell-free assays of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase (mPGES)-1, and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity. Moreover, antibacterial and disinfectant activities were assessed. Characterization of secondary metabolites was achieved by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis. n-Hexane- and dichloromethane-based extracts of Garcinia cambogia efficiently suppressed 5-LO activity in human neutrophils (IC50 = 0.92 and 1.39 µg/mL), and potently inhibited isolated human 5-LO (IC50 = 0.15 and 0.16 µg/mL) and mPGES-1 (IC50 = 0.29 and 0.49 µg/mL). Lipophilic extracts of Pothos scandens displayed potent inhibition of mPGES-1 only. A methanolic extract of Ophiorrhiza mungos caused significant NO scavenging activity. The lipophilic extracts of G. cambogia exhibited prominent antibacterial and disinfectant activities, and GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of fatty acids, sesquiterpenes and other types of secondary metabolites. Together, our results suggest the prospective utilization of G. cambogia as disinfective agent with potent anti-inflammatory properties.

Highlights

Sri Lanka, an island with a varied climate and topography of 65,610 km2 extension located in the Indian Ocean, displays a rich biodiversity distributed within a wide range of ecosystems
The inhibition of 5-LO product biosynthesis by the respective extracts was studied in vitro using isolated human neutrophils that were stimulated with the Ca2+ -ionophore A23187 plus 20 μM arachidonic acid as well as using isolated human recombinant 5-LO as enzyme source and 20 μM arachidonic acid as substrate
The antibacterial activity of G. cambogia extracts was demonstrated before [35] and the lipophilic extracts of G. cambogia used in the present study showed pronounced effects in this respect against S. aureus, S. saprophyticus and four strains of MRSA (MIC = 31.25–125 μg/mL)

Summary

Introduction

Sri Lanka, an island with a varied climate and topography of 65,610 km extension located in the Indian Ocean, displays a rich biodiversity distributed within a wide range of ecosystems. It is estimated that more than 1400 plants are employed in the indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka [1]. The use of medicinal plants for the treatment of inflammatory disorders is a common practice in local communities in Sri Lanka, as evidenced by ethnobotanical surveys carried out in two administrative regions in the country [2,3]. A number of plant species have been documented as antimicrobial remedies as well as disinfectants or antiseptics [4]. Only a limited number of in-depth scientific studies have been conducted so far on the phytochemistry and bioactivities of these folklore plants

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