Euphorbia is the largest genus in the Euphorbiaceae family, which contains at least 2000 species
[1]. Euphorbia species, containing diterpenoids, flavonoids, volatile compounds and tannins [2],
are known to have cytotoxic, antitumor, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-HIV
activities [3], and some of them are used in folk medicine to treat skin diseases
and wounds. In this study, n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the aerial parts of Euphorbia characias L. were successively prepared and evaluated for their wound-healing and anti-inflammatory
properties. Methanol extract of E. characias herba, the most potent extract that has been identified, was fractionated by bioassay-guided
fractionation, and column chromatography was used for separation. Fractions exhibiting
similar chromatographic profiles were combined and tested for their activities. The
fractions with the highest activity were subjected to further chromatographic separation
to obtain the active compounds quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and quercetin-3-O-arabinoside. Chemical structures of these compounds were determined by means of spectroscopy
(1H, 13C and 2D NMR, MS). Isolated compounds were found to be responsible for the activity.
Acetic acid-induced increase in capillary permeability test was used for the evaluation
of anti-inflammatory activity, and linear incision and circular excision wound models
were used for the evaluation of wound-healing activity.
References:
[1] Davis PH. Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Volume 7, Edinburgh: Edinburgh
University Press; 1970: 571
[2] Shi QW, Su XH, Kiyota H. Chemical and pharmacological research of the plants in
genus Euphorbia. Chem Rev 2008; 108: 4295 – 4327
[3] Demirkıran Ö, Topçu G, Hussain J, Ahmad VU, Choudhary MI. Structure elucidation
of two new unusual monoterpene glycosides from Euphorbia decipiens, by 1D and 2D NMR
experiments. Magn Reson Chem 2011; 49: 673 – 677
