Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties of the Extract, Tiliroside, and Patuletin 3-O- β-D-Glucopyranoside from Pfaffia townsendii (Amaranthaceae)

Abstract

Brazilian ginseng, including Pfaffia townsendii, is used in popular medicine as a natural anti-inflammatory, tonic, analgesic, and antidiabetic agent. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition and evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the P. townsendii ethanolic extract as well as the major isolated glycoside flavonoids tiliroside and patuletin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. Chromatographic techniques and spectroscopic analysis were used for the isolation and identification of the major compounds. The antioxidant potential was determined through DPPH and ORAC-FL assays. The total phenolic content was measured using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined based on a model of paw edema and carrageenan- (Cg-) induced pleurisy. We identified three phenolic acids, one carboxylic acid and two flavonoids, patuletin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and tiliroside. The ethanol crude extracts, partitions and isolated flavonoids (4581 μmol of Trolox equivalents/g of extract in ORAC and a SC₅₀ of approximately 31.9 μg/mL in the DPPH assay) demonstrated antioxidant activity, and the ethanolic extract as well as isolated flavonoids inhibited paw edema induced by Cg and leukocyte migration in the Cg-induced pleurisy model. The extract, tiliroside, and patuletin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside obtained from P. townsendii have therapeutic potential against oxidative stress-related and inflammatory disorders.

Figure 1

ESI-MS spectra of ethanol extract and chemical structure of flavonoids identified and isolated from Pfaffia townsendii.

Figure 2

Effect of ethanolic extract of Pfaffia townsendii (EEPT) and isolated flavonoids on carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. Animals received ethanol extract, EEPT, (300 mg/kg, p.o), tiliroside (1.0 mg/kg), patuletin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1.0 mg/kg), and dexamethasone (Dexa – 1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) or control (vehicle) and after 0.5 (a), 1 (b), 2 (c), and 4 hours (d), an intraplantar injection of carrageenan (300μg/paw) was performed. Each bar or point represents ± SEM of 6 animals. ∗P < 0.05, ∗∗P < 0.01, and ∗∗∗P < 0.001, compared with vehicle-treated group.

Figure 3

Effect of ethanol extract EEPT of P. townsendii (300 mg/kg), tiliroside (1.0 mg/kg), and patuletin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1.0 mg/kg) on carrageenan-induced leukocyte migration and plasma leakage into the air pouch. Mice received substances, control, or vehicle 1 h before carrageenan stimulus (n = 6 animals per group). ∗P < 0.05, ∗∗P < 0.01, and ∗∗∗P < 0.001, compared with vehicle-treated group.