Planta Med 2015; 81 - PW_35
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1565659

In vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and determination of chemical composition of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Stellaria media herb

M Rogowska 1, A Parzonko 1, A Bazylko 1
  • 1Department of Pharmacognosy and Molecular Basis of Phytotherapy, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

Stellaria media L. (Vill.) (Caryophyllaceae) is common weed used as food and medicinal plant. It is used to treat various diseases such as inflammations of the digestive, renal and respiratory tracts. Moreover extracts are applied topically to treat dermatological diseases [1, 2].

The aim of our study was determination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and chemical composition of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Stellaria media herb. Scavenging of DPPH radicals, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2 -·) in xanthine-xanthine oxidase system as well as nitrogen oxide (NO·) and peroxynitrite (ONOO-) were evaluated. To examine the anti-inflammatory activity of the studied extracts, inhibition of hyaluronidase, lipoxidase and collagenase activity by the extracts was tested. The range of the extracts concentrations was: 50 – 500, 10 – 200, 5 – 50, 100 – 500 µg/mL for DPPH, H2O2 and O2 -·, NO· and ONOO-, and enzymes, respectively. All mentioned assays were made in in vitro cell-free systems. Studies of composition of the extracts were performed using high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with Diode Array Detector (DAD) and Ion Trap Mass Detector. Main components of both extracts were apigenin glycosides.

Stronger scavenging activity against tested radicals showed ethanolic extract (SC50: 132.8 ± 3.9, 16.5 ± 0.4, 11.9 ± 1.1 µg/mL for H2O2, NO· and ONOO-, respectively), only against superoxide anion activity of aqueous extract was more potent (SC50 = 62.7 ± 8.1 µg/mL). Enzymes inhibition activity of tested extracts was rather weak, but in those cases also ethanolic extract showed stronger activity.

References:

[1] Haq F, Ahmad H, Alam M. Traditional uses of medicinal plants of Nandiar Khuwarr catchment (District Battagram), Pakistan. J Med Plants Res 2011; 5: 39 – 48

[2] Gairola S, Sharma J, Bedi YS. A cross-cultural analysis of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh (India) medicinal plant use. J Ethnopharmacol 2014; 155: 925 – 986