Research paperTopical analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Oxybaphus nyctagineus: Phytochemical characterization of active fractions
Graphical abstract
Introduction
Oxybaphus nyctagineus (Michx.) Sweet (syn.: Allionia nyctaginea, Mirabilis nyctaginea) commonly known as heart-leaf four-o’clock or heart-leaf umbrella-wort belongs to the family Nyctaginaceae. The common names of this perennial plant refer to the physiology of blooming and the morphology of the flowers. The small, pink flowers of wild four-o’clock open in the late afternoon (around 4 p.m.) from May to September, which are covered by large papery bracts forming ‘umbrellas’ (Cruden, 1973, Cardina et al., 2009). The wild four o’clock is native to North America (Spellenberg, 2004), but by now, due to its ornamental value (Carrol, 2006), spreading strategy and high tolerance (Doll, 2002), it is widely distributed as an invasive species in several European countries, e.g.: in Austria (Melzer, 1971), in Romania (Culita, 2007), in Poland (Ceynowa-Gieldon, 1988), and in Hungary (Solymosi, 2008).
Native American tribes utilized different parts of Oxybaphus nyctagineus in diverse ways to treat wide scale of diseases. Among the Ponca it was called Makan-wasek (‘strong medicine’) and its chewed root was used as a remedy for wounds (Gilmore, 1919). The Pawnees knew this plant as Kahtstakat (‘yellow medicine’) and applied the dried root to cure sore mouth in babies, while women drank as decoction after childbirth to relieve abdominal swelling (Gilmore, 1919, Foster and Duke, 1999). The Sioux drank the same decoction to reduce fever (Gilmore, 1919, Cardina et al., 2009). For the external treatment of fracture and swelling of the limbs, a mixture from the dried herb and soft grease was prepared by the Sioux (Densmore, 1918, Gilmore, 1919). The Ojibwe Indians also used this plant (called ‘goko’ coadji’ bik’, i.e., pig root) to reduce sprains and swellings (Smith, 1932). The Navajo Indians applied its root and aerial part externally as ‘fire medicine’ for burns, scalds, swellings and sores in form of dusting powder, poultice and ointment (Wyman and Harris, 1941, Elmore, 1944). Interestingly, the Acoma and Laguna Indians smoked its leaves as tobacco (Swank, 1932), while the Sioux combined and boiled it with Echinacea angustifolia and taken as a vermifuge (Gilmore, 1919). Internally, the leaf or root tea was used for bladder ailments (Foster and Duke, 1999). Despite the above summarized extensive and diverse therapeutic uses of wild four-o’clock, to the best of our knowledge, no data regarding neither the phytochemical composition, nor the bioactivity of this species has been reported in the literature to date.
Considering that Oxybaphus nyctagineus was traditionally used to treat fractures and sprains, to reduce swellings, fever, inflammation and for wound healing, the basic purpose of our research was to investigate the antioxidant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of the crude extracts of Oxybaphus nyctagineus. In parallel, we aimed to characterize the major chemical constituents of the bioactive fractions in order to verify its beneficial ethnopharmacological effects. In addition, the significant spreading of Oxybaphus nyctagineus as a weed in Hungary strengthened the relevance of our study.
Section snippets
Chemicals and reagents
Analytical grade of dimethylsulfoxide, methanol, dioxane, and trifluoroacetic acid was obtained from Merck (Darmstadt, Germany). Thiopental was purchased from Sandoz (Kundl, Austria). Diclofenac gel (topical formulation of diclofenac) with active substance content of 10 mg/g was purchased from Ratiopharm (product no. L09783, Ulm, Germany). All other solvents, reagents and reference compounds were of analytical grade and purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St Louis, MO, USA). Purified water (18 mΩ) was
Effects of PCE and ACE on carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats
The results are summarized in Fig. 1. Maximum edema formation to carrageenan was observed at 2–3 h after carrageenan injection in the control group. Pretreatment with PCE, ACE (2.5 mg/paw each), and diclofenac (1 mg/paw) attenuated the edema formation with 38%, 39% and 73% maximum inhibition, respectively. Maximum inhibitions of edema formation by Oxybaphus nyctagineus extracts and diclofenac gel were maintained at 30–60 min post-carrageenan administration. An antiphlogistic effect of Oxybaphus
Discussion and conclusion
Oxybaphus nyctagineus has been traditionally used by Native American tribes for the treatment of several inflammatory diseases; however the scientific basis for its folklore use is lacking in the literature. In order to prove the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of Oxybaphus nyctagineus, polar and apolar crude extracts (PCE and ACE) of the aerial parts were prepared and submitted to in vivo tests, such as the carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model in rats and the CFA-induced
References (51)
- et al.
Peroxynitrite scavenging by different antioxidants
Part I: convenient assay. Nitric Oxide
(1999) - et al.
A limited arthritic model for chronic pain studies in the rat
Pain
(1992) - et al.
Inflammation, free radicals, and antioxidants
Nutrition
(1996) - et al.
The interleukin-1 family: back to the future
Immunity
(2013) - et al.
Anti-inflammatory activities and mechanisms of action of the petroleum ether fraction of Rosa multiflora Thunb
Hips. Journal of Ethnophramacology
(2011) - et al.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) flower extract suppresses both reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide and prevents lipid oxidation in vitro
Phytomedicine
(2005) - et al.
Comparison of the efficacy and skin permeability of topical NSAID preparations used in Europe
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
(2012) - et al.
Flavonoids with anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity from Cistus laurifolius L. leaves through bioassay-guided procedures
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
(2007) - et al.
Prostaglandin-H-synthase (PGHS)-1 and -2 microtiter assays for the testing of herbal drugs and in vitro inhibition of PGHS-isoenzyms by polyunsaturated fatty acids from Platycodi radix
Phytomedicine
(2006) - et al.
Identification of eupalitin, eupatolitin and patuletin glycosides in Ipomopsis aggregata
Phytochemistry
(1971)
6-methoxyflavonols from disjunct populations of Brickellia cylindracea (compositae)
Biochemical Systematics and Ecology
Flavonoids with antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities from the leaves of Tilia argentea (silver linden)
Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Flavonoids from Brickellia chlorolepis and B. dentata
Phytochemistry
Antioxidant determination by the use of a stable free radical
Nature
Flavonol robinobiosides and rutinosides from Alternanthera brasiliana (Amaranthaceae) and their effects on lymphocyte proliferation in vitro
Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society
Ohio Perennial & Biennial Weed Guide. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center
Truman State University׳s solar clock garden
Plant Science Bulletin
Oxybaphus nyctagineus—a permanent element of the Polish synanthropic flora
Fragmenta Floristica et Geobotanica
The role of quercetin, flavonols and flavones in modulating inflammatory cell function
Inflammation and Allergy - Drug Targets
Validation of the dual weight averager as an instrument for the measurement of clinically relevant pain
British Journal of Pharmacology
Reproductive biology of weedy and cultivated Mirabilis (Nyctaginaceae)
American Journal of Botany
Considerations regarding the alien plants from Moldavian flora (Romania), deliberately introduced by man
Journal of Plant Development
First isolation of a symmetrical glycosylated methylene bisflavonoid
Planta Medica
Wild Four-O’Clock (Mirabilis nyctaginea)
Cited by (4)
The flower of Abelmoschus manihot (L.) medik exerts antioxidant effects by regulating the Nrf2 signalling pathway in scald injury
2024, Wound Repair and RegenerationAntioxidant activity-guided phytochemical investigation of artemisia aucheri boiss.: Isolation of ethyl caffeate and a spinacetin glycoside
2021, Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical ResearchAnti-inflammatory Potential of Flavonoids from the Aerial Parts of Corispermum marschallii
2018, Journal of Natural Products
- 1
These authors have contributed equally to this work.