Planta Med 2012; 78 - PI199
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1320887

Epigallocatechin gallate, myricetin and ellagic acid glycosides with anti-inflammatory activity from Memecylon edule leaves

S Nualkaew 1, S Thongpraditchote 2, Y Wongkrajang 2, K Umehara 3, H Noguchi 3
  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham 44150 Thailand
  • 2Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400 Thailand
  • 3School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422–8526 JAPAN

Memecylon edule Roxb. (Melastomataceae) is a shrubby tree commonly found in the Northeast forest of Thailand. The leaf of this plant is traditionally used as an anti-burning remedy for its anti-inflammatory effects. The crude extract of this plant showed significant anti-inflammatory effect in our previous report. In this present, the chemical constituents of M. edule were isolated and tested for anti-inflammatory activity. Epigallocatechin gallate, myricetin and ellagic acid glycosides were isolated from Memecylon edule leaves by column chromatography and interpreted by spectroscopic method. They are the main component of the 50% methanol fraction. Their anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated by inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) release using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results demonstrated that epigallocatechin gallate (100 uM), myricetin (100 uM) and ellagic acid glycosides (40 uM) exhibited anti-inflammatory activity which showed %inhibition of TNF-α of 19.46, 39.14 and 47.78, respectively. These results suggested that they are the compounds responsible for the inflammatory effects of this plant which previously observed for the crude extract.