Ajuga Bracteosa Wall Research Articles

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of the essential oils of Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth. and Lavandula dentata L. growing wild in Yemen

The essential oils from the aerial part of two Lamiaceae species namely, Ajuga bracteosaand Lavandula dentata growing in Yemen were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Parallel to that, evaluation of their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities was also carried out. The investigation led to the identification of 47 and 48 components for both plants respectively. Both oils were rich in oxygenated monoterpenes (34 to 51%). A. bracteosa oil contained as well a high content of aliphatic acids (30.3%). Borneol (20.8%) and hexadecanoic acid (16.0%) were the main constituents of the oil of A. bracteosa. Camphor (12.4%), trans-pinocarveol (7.5%), β-eudesmol (7.1%) and α-guiaol (6.1%) predominated inL. dentata. Both essential oils possessed antimicrobial activity with MIC-values between 0.33 and 12.2 mg/ml. Moreover, the DPPH-radical scavenging assay exhibited a significant antioxidant activity for A. bracteosa (78%) at 1.0 mg/ml. Key words: Ajuga bracteosa, Lavandula dentata, antimicrobial, antioxidant, essential oils, gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS).

Ajuganane: A New Phenolic Compound from Ajuga bracteosa

Phytochemical investigation of Ajuga bracteosa Wall ex Benth. (Labiatae) resulted in the isolation of a new phenolic compound, ajuganane (1) and three known compounds, 3,4'-dihydroxy-3,6,7-trimethoxyflavone, 7-hydroxy-3,6,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone and ursolic acid. The structure of the new compound was elucidated by detailed spectroscopic (1H, 13C NMR, COSY, HMQC, HMBC), and HR-EI-MS analysis.

Antiarthritic effects of Ajuga bracteosa Wall ex Benth. in acute and chronic models of arthritis in albino rats

ObjectiveTo evaluate the antiarthritic activity of Ajuga bracteosa using albino rats. MethodsThe antiarthritic activity of 70% ethanolic extract of Ajuga bracteosa (EEAB) was evaluated against turpentine oil- and formaldehyde–induced acute non immunological and complete freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced chronic immunological arthritis in albino rats. ResultsEEAB showed a significant (P<0.05) and dose dependent inhibitory effect against acute and chronic models of arthritis. EEAB exhibited better antiarthritic activity than the standard aspirin. ConclusionsEEAB exhibits a significant and promising antiarthritic activity against acute and chronic arthritis and supports the traditional use of Ajuga bracteosa for rheumatism and other inflammatory diseases.

Evaluation of in vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Ajuga bracteosa Wall ex Benth

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Ajuga bracteosa Wall Ex Benth. (Labiateae) is described in Ayurveda for the treatment of rheumatism, gout, palsy and amenorrhea. ObjectivePresent study was aimed to investigate the in vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Neelkanthi (whole plant) and to support its traditional use. MethodsMethanolic extract of plant Ajuga bracteosa (ABE) was investigated for its anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced rat paw oedema, egg albumin induced inflammation in rats and the study was further supported with in vitro anti-inflammatory study by using Human red blood cell membrane stabilization (HRBC) method. Three doses of the extract (ABE-250, 500 and 750 mg/kg, i.p.) were used in the study and diclofenac sodium (5mg/kg, i.p.) was used as standard. ResultsABE (500 and 750 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced increased in paw volume induced by carrageenan and egg albumin. ABE also showed significant stabilization toward HRBC membrane. ConclusionsABE at the dose of 500 and 750 mg/kg showed potent action on comparison with the standard drug diclofenac sodium.

Anti-inflammatory properties of Ajuga bracteosa in vivo and in vitro study and their effects on mouse model of liver fibrosis

The entire plant of Ajuga bracteosa Wall has been used to treat various inflammatory disorders, including hepatitis, in Taiwan. This study evaluated the hepatoprotective ability of Ajuga bracteosa extract (ABE). We investigated the inhibitory action of a chloroform fraction of ABE (ABCE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and Kupffer cells. Hepatic fibrosis was induced in mice through the administration of CCl(4) twice a week for 8 weeks. Mice in three CCl(4) groups were treated daily with water and ABE throughout the duration of the experiment. In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and Kupffer cells, ABCE inhibited the production of NO and/or TNF-α and also blocked the LPS-induced expression of NO synthase. ABCE inhibited the activation of NF-κB induced by LPS, associated with the abrogation of IκBα degradation, with a subsequent decrease in nuclear p65 and p50 protein levels. The phosphorylation of MAPKs in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells was also suppressed using ABCE. In the in vivo study, ABE protected the liver from injury by reducing the activity of plasma aminotransferase, and by improving the histological architecture of the liver. RT-PCR analysis showed that ABE inhibited the hepatic mRNA expression of LPS binding protein, CD14, TNF-α, collagen(α1)(I), and α-smooth actin. These results indicate that ABE alleviated CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis, and that this protection is probably due to the suppression of macrophage activation.

Anti-inflammatory effect of Ajuga bracteosa Wall Ex Benth. mediated through cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition

Ajuga bracteosa Wall Ex Benth. (Labiateae) is described in Ayurveda for the treatment of rheumatism, gout, palsy and amenorrhea. The aim of present investigation is to study anti-inflammatory activity of Ajuga bracteosa, to understand possible mechanism of action and to identify the constituents responsible for its activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of 70% ethanolic extract was evaluated in TPA-induced mouse ear edema assay and in vitro cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 inhibitory activity was determined using EIA kits employing appropriate reference standards. Aajugarin I, lupulin A, withaferin A, reptoside and 6-deoxyharpagide were isolated from the 70% ethanolic extract by silica gel column chromatography. The 70% ethanol extract of whole plants of Ajuga bracteosa showed a significant (p<0.05) and dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity in an acute inflammation model at the dose of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/ear. The extract also exhibited a strong in vitro COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitory activity at 25 and 50 μg/mL concentration. Among the isolated compounds 6-deoxyharpagide exhibited highest COX-2 inhibition while rest of the compounds exhibited weak to moderate COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition at 30 μM concentration. The results suggest that the 70% ethanol extract of Ajuga bracteosa possesses promising anti-inflammatory activity, which is possibly mediated through inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. The isolated constituents could be responsible in part for its anti-inflammatory and COX inhibitory activity. The study supports traditional use of Ajuga bracteosa for inflammatory diseases.