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The activity against leukocyte eicosanoid generation of essential oil and polar fractions of Adesmia boronioides Hook.f.
Author(s) -
González S. B.,
Houghton P. J.,
Hoult J. R. S.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/ptr.1118
Subject(s) - eicosanoid , arachidonic acid , chemistry , viability assay , biochemistry , biological activity , pharmacology , nordihydroguaiaretic acid , thromboxane b2 , thromboxane , biosynthesis , in vitro , biology , enzyme , immunology , platelet
The polar fractions (methanol and aqueous extract) and essential oil of Adesmia boronioides aerial parts were tested in vitro at concentrations of 15 and 50 µg/mL, for their effects on the COX and 5‐LOX pathways of eicosanoid generation (TXB 2 , PGE 2 and LTB 4 ) in stimulated rat peritoneal leukocytes. Potent inhibition of LTB 4 generation was displayed by the methanol extract and the essential oil, whereas the aqueous extract was essentially inactive. The methanol extract also caused potent inhibition of TXB 2 generation but the essential oil and the aqueous extract were much less active. The effects on PGE 2 production were much less striking, implying that the main effect is on thromboxane synthetase rather than on COX. Although the essential oil caused LDH release in leukocytes treated concurrently with ionophore, suggesting substantial toxicity to the cells, this extract did not affect cell viability according to the MTT test when incubated with the cells in the absence of ionophore. The two other extracts did not affect cell viability at the concentrations tested. It is concluded that Adesmia boronioides contains substance(s) that preferentially inhibit the 5‐lipoxygenase activity of arachidonic acid metabolism and suggest that this may contribute to the antiinammatory actions of extracts of this plant. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.