Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of derivatives from aerial parts of Baccharis uncinella

Context: Species of Baccharis exhibit antibiotic, antiseptic, and wound-healing properties, and have been used in the traditional medicine of South America for the treatment of inflammation, headaches, diabetes, and hepatobiliary disorders.Objective: To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of organic phases from EtOH extract of the aerial parts of Baccharis uncinella DC (Asteraceae).Materials and methods: The crude EtOH extract from the aerial parts of B. uncinella was subjected to partition procedures and the corresponding CH(2)Cl(2) and EtOAc phases were subjected to several chromatographic separation procedures. Thus, these phases and their purified compounds were assayed for evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity.Results: The CH(2)Cl(2) phase from EtOH extract from B. uncinella contained two triterpenoids (oleanolic and ursolic acids) and one flavonoid (pectolinaringenin), whereas the respective EtOAc phase showed to be composed mainly by two phenylpropanoid derivatives (caffeic and ferulic acids). The CH(2)Cl(2) and EtOAc phases as well as their isolated compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory effects against inflammatory reactions induced by phospholipase A2 (from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom) and by carrageenan.Discussion and conclusion: The results suggested that the components obtained from partition phases of EtOH extract of B. uncinella could represent lead molecules for the development of anti-inflammatory agents. Additionally, the results confirmed the use of Baccharis genus in the traditional medicine of South America for the treatment of inflammation and other heath disorders. To date, the present work describes for the first time the anti-inflammatory effects of compounds isolated from B. uncinella.

Effects of morin on snake venom phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2))

Flavonoids are potent anti-inflammatory compounds isolated from several plant extracts, and have been used experimentally against inflammatory processes. In this work, a PLA(2) isolated from the Crotalus durissus cascavella venom and rat paw oedema were used as a model to. study the effect of flavonoids on PLA(2). We observed that a treatment of PLA(2) with morin induces several modifications in the aromatic amino acids, with accompanying changes in its amino acid composition. In addition, results from circular dichroism spectroscopy and UV scanning revealed important structural modifications. Concomitantly, a considerable decrease in the enzymatic and antibacterial activities was observed, even though anti-inflammatory and neurotoxic activities were not affected. These apparent controversial results may be an indication that PLA(2) possess a second pharmacological site which does not affect or depend on the enzymatic activity. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of umbelliferone (7-hydroxycoumarin, 7-HOC) on the enzymatic, edematogenic and necrotic activities of secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) isolated from Crotalus durissus collilineatus venom

Flavonoids, coumarins and other polyphenolic compounds are powerful antioxiants both in hydrophilic and lipophylic environments with diverse pharmacological properties including anti-inflammatory activity. Despite being widely used as powerful therapeutic agents for blood coagulation disorders, more specifically to control some serine protease enzymes, the mechanism of anti-inflammatory activity of coumarins is unknown, unlike that of flavonoids. Although their controlling effect on serine proteases is well acknowledged, their action on secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) remains obscure. The present study describes the interaction between umbelliferone (7-HOC) and the sPLA2 from Crotalus durissus collilineatus venom. In vitro inhibition of sPLA2 enzymatic activity by 7-HOC was estimated using 4N3OBA as substrate, resulting in an irreversible decrease in such activity proportional to 7-HOC concentration. The biophysical interaction between 7-HOC and sPLA2 was examined by fluorescent spectral analysis and circular dichroism studies. Results from both techniques clearly showed that 7-HOC strongly modified the secondary structure of this enzyme and CD spectra revealed that it strongly decreased sPLA2 alphahelical conformation. In addition, two-dimensional electrophoresis indicated an evident difference between HPLC-purified native and 7-HOC-treated sPLA2s, which were used in pharmacological experiments to compare their biological activities. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by the sPLA2-induced mouse paw edema model, in which 7-HOC presented an effect similar to those of dexamethasone and cyproheptacline against the pro-inflammatory effect induced by native sPLA2 on the mouse paw edema, mast cell degranulation and skin edema. on the other hand, 7-HOC exhibited a more potent inhibitory effect on sPUL2 than that of p-bromophenacyl bromide (p-BPB). Our data suggest that 7-HOC interacts with sPLA2 and causes some structural modifications that lead to a sharp decrease or inhibition of the edematogenic and myotoxic activities of this enzyme, indicating its potential use to suppress inflammation induced by sPLA2 from the snake venom. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Quercetin as an inhibitor of snake venom secretory phospholipase A2

As polyphenolic compounds isolated from plants extracts, flavonoids have been applied to various pharmaceutical uses in recent decades due to their anti-inflammatory, cancer preventive, and cardiovascular protective activities. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the flavonoid quercetin on Crotalus durissus terrificus secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2), an important protein involved in the release of arachidonic acid from phospholipid membranes. The protein was chemically modified by treatment with quercetin, which resulted in modifications in the secondary structure as evidenced through circular dichroism. In addition, quercetin was able to inhibit the enzymatic activity and some pharmacological activities of sPLA2, including its antibacterial activity, its ability to induce platelet aggregation, and its myotoxicity by approximately 40%, but was not able to reduce the inflammatory and neurotoxic activities of sPLA2. These results suggest the existence of two pharmacological sites in the protein, one that is correlated with the enzymatic site and another that is distinct from it. We also performed molecular docking to better understand the possible interactions between quercetin and sPLA2. Our docking data showed the existence of hydrogen-bonded, polar interactions and hydrophobic interactions, suggesting that other flavonoids with similar structures could bind to sPLA2. Further research is warranted to investigate the potential use of flavonoids as sPLA2 inhibitors. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.