Planta Med 2009; 75 - PC4
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234463

Anti-inflammatory compounds from Crithmum maritimum

S Ngom 1, 3, L Breant 1, 3, C Antheaume 2, S Herrmann 1, A Leick 1, 3, J Muller 1, 3, N Mekideche 3, A Lobstein 1
  • 1Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, UMR-CNRS 7200, Faculty of Pharmacy, 67400 Illkirch, France
  • 2SCA-NMR, University of Strasbourg, Faculty of Pharmacy, 67400 Illkirch, France
  • 3BiotechMarine Z.I. BP 72 22260 Pontrieux, France

Crithmum maritimum L. (Sea Fennel) is a halophyte perennial herb of the European littoral, traditionally used for its antibacterial, vermifuge, antispasmodic and tonic properties [1].

We investigated in vitro the anti-inflammatory activity of extracts from the aerial parts of C. maritimum using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy individuals. The dichloromethane extract at doses of 50 and 10µg.mL-1 exhibited a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity on LPS-induced production of TNF-α by PBMC, using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay.

Thus, in addition to four compounds already described in the sea fennel [2,3] like dillapiole (1), scopoletin (2), scoparone (3) and falcarindiol (4), we isolated six other substances which are identified for the first time in the genus Crithmum: vomifoliol (5), ω-hydroxyisodillapiole (6), ferulaldehyde (7), iso-scopoletin (8) and diosmetin (9). Furthermore, a new structure was characterized: (2E)-2-ethylidene-3-[(10E,12R)-12-hydroxybut-10-en-10-yl]-4,4-dimethylcyclopentanone (10).

Among them, three metabolites, (2–4) showed potent anti-inflammatory activities with IC50 of 9.15µM, 19µM and 37µM respectively, on our experimental model.

References: [1]Özcan, M. et al. (2001) Nahrung 45:353–356.

[2] Cunsolo, F. et al. (1993)J. Nat. Prod. 56:1598–600.

[3] Katsouri, E. et al. (2001)J. Ess. Oil Res. 13:303–308.