Anti-oxidant and inflammatory mediator's growth inhibitory effects of compounds isolated from Phyllanthus urinaria

J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Mar 5;116(2):333-40. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2007.11.040. Epub 2007 Dec 4.

Abstract

Phyllanthus urinaria Linnea (Euphorbiaceae), is a traditional anti-hepatitis herb used in Taiwan. In continuation of our search for potent natural anti-inflammatory agents, from the ethanolic extract of this plant, nine compounds including phyllanthin (1), phyltetralin (2), trimethyl-3,4-dehydrochebulate (3), methylgallate (4), and rhamnocitrin (5), methyl brevifolincarboxylate (6), beta-sitosterol-3-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (7), quercitrin (8), and rutin (9) were isolated. The structures of compounds 3 and 6 were established based on NMR and mass spectral studies. The isolates 1-9 were investigated for their antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. In the antioxidant assay, the isolates 3, 4 and 6 exhibited significant DPPH radical scavenging activity with an IC(50) value of 9.4, 9.8 and 8.9 microM, respectively. On the other hand, in the inflammatory mediators growth inhibitory assay from LPS/interferon (IFN)-gamma-activated peritoneal macrophages, all the isolates except 7, significantly and dose-dependently inhibited the enhanced production of NO radicals, and such modulation was closely associated with the inhibition of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6. In addition, 30 microM of isolates 3 and 6, and 50 microM of 4, significantly arrest the mitogen-stimulated spleen cells in G0/G1 stage. This is the first report on Phyllanthus urinaria isolates for their growth inhibitory activities against inflammatory mediators, in addition to spleen cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 stage. Therefore, these isolates from Phyllanthus urinaria may be useful for the treatment of cell-mediated immune diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Cell Cycle
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Inflammation Mediators / pharmacology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Phyllanthus / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Plant Extracts