Planta Med 2016; 82(S 01): S1-S381
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1596852
Abstracts
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Characterization of a polymethoxyflavone-rich fraction of Ageratum conyzoides and its anti-inflammatory effects

Authors

  • LG Faqueti

    1   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CCS, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – UFSC, Florianópolis/SC, Brazil

  • V Brieudes

    2   Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

  • M Halabalaki

    2   Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

  • AL Skaltsounis

    2   Department of Pharmacognosy and Natural Products Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

  • LF Nascimento

    3   Laboratory of Neurobiology of Pain and Inflammaiton, Departament of Physiological Sciences, CCB, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – UFSC, Florianópolis/SC, Brazil

  • WM Barros

    3   Laboratory of Neurobiology of Pain and Inflammaiton, Departament of Physiological Sciences, CCB, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – UFSC, Florianópolis/SC, Brazil

  • ARS Santos

    3   Laboratory of Neurobiology of Pain and Inflammaiton, Departament of Physiological Sciences, CCB, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – UFSC, Florianópolis/SC, Brazil

  • MW Biavatti

    1   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, CCS, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – UFSC, Florianópolis/SC, Brazil
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 December 2016 (online)

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    In tropical countries, Ageratum conyzoides L. is widely used in traditional medicine to treat pain, fever and inflammatory chronic diseases such rheumatoid arthritis [1,2]. Although its popular use is well-established, presence of low content of toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids in its extracts could be potentially harmful to human health when exposed for long periods [3]. In this context, an alkaloid-free standardized extract from A. conyzoides leaves (SEPAc) was prepared and further characterized by UHPLC-HRMS revealing the presence of seven methoxyflavones. Moreover, a UHPLC-PDA method was developed and fully validated toward the quantitative determination SEPAc's major components: 5,6,7,3',4',5'-hexametoxyflavone; nobiletin; 5'-methoxynobiletin and eupalestin. Displayed concentrations of these compounds in the extract were ranging from 70.2 ± 3.5 and 264.7 ± 5.3 µg g-1. Finally, the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the SEPAc were evaluated after oral administration on the acute nocifensive behavior of mice induced by formalin, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- α) in mice. As a result, the SEPAc exhibited antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities in both formalin phases. Also, a significant inhibition of the paw edema formation was observed as well as a significant reduction the nocifensive response induced by an intraplantar injection of PGE2 and intrathecal injection of interleukin-1β.

    In conclusion, this study demonstrated for the first time a potential beneficial effect of the polymethoxyflavones extract from Ageratum conyzoides to treat pain and inflammation which suggest its potential interest as a source of new medicines to treat inflammatory diseases, such rheumatoid arthritis.

    Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to CNPq, CAPES and the CHEMBIOFIGHT PROJECT (code number 269301) for the financial support and the fellowships.

    Keywords: Ageratum conyzoides, methoxyflavones, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory.

    References:

    [1] Okunade AL. Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae). Fitoterapia 2002; 73: 1 – 16

    [2] Lorenzi H, Matos FJA. Plantas medicinais brasileiras: nativas e exóticas. 2008; second ed. Instituto Plantarum de Estudos da Flora Ltda, Nova Odessa.

    [3] Bosi CF, Rosa DW, Grougnet R, Lemonakis N, Halabalaki M, Skaltsounis AL, Biavatti MW. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in medicinal tea of Ageratum conyzoides. Rev Bras Farmacogn 2013; 23: 425 – 432


     

    No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).