Screening for Anti-Inflammatory Activity of 12 Arnica (Asteraceae) Species Assessed by Inhibition of NF-κB and Release of Human Neutrophil Elastase

 

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Abstract

Several species in the genus Arnica have been used in traditional medicine to treat inflammatory-related disorders. Extracts of twelve Arnica species and two species closely related to Arnica (Layia hieracioides and Madia sativa) were investigated for inhibition of human neutrophil elastase release and inhibition of transcription factor NF-κB. Statistical analyses reveal significant differences in inhibitory capacities between extracts. Sesquiterpene lactones of the helenanolide type, of which some are known inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase release and NF-κB, are present in large amounts in the very active extracts of A. montana and A. chamissonis. Furthermore, A. longifolia, which has previously not been investigated, shows a high activity similar to that of A. montana and A. chamissonis in both bioassays. Sesquiterpene lactones of the xanthalongin type are present in large amounts in A. longifolia and other active extracts and would be interesting to evaluate further.

Abbreviations

COX-2:cyclooxygenase 2

EMSA:electrophoretic mobility shift assay

fMLP:N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine

HaCaT:human keratinocyte

HNE:human neutrophil elastase

IκB:inhibitory subunit of κB

iNOS:inducible nitric oxide synthase

NF-κB:nuclear factor κB

PAF:platelet activating factor

STL:sesquiterpene lactone

TNF-α:tumor necrosis factor α

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Catarina Ekenäs

Division of Pharmacognosy

Department of Medicinal Chemistry

BMC Box 574

S-751 23 Uppsala

Phone: +46-18-471-4479

Fax: +46-18-50-9101

Email: catarina.ekenas@fkog.uu.se

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