Ilex paraguariensis is a native plant from Southern America, where it is used as a beverage. In traditional medicine, it is used to treat many diseases including inflammation. However, we do not yet know precisely how this effect occurs. We therefore evaluated its anti-inflammatory effect in a murine model of pleurisy. The standardized CE, BF and ARF fractions, Caf, Rut and CGA were able to reduce leukocyte migration, exudate concentration, MPO and ADA activities and NOx levels. Moreover, I. paraguariensis also inhibited the release of Th1/Th17 pro-inflammatory cytokines, while increasing IL-10 production and improving the histological architecture of inflamed lungs. In addition, its major compounds decreased p65 NF-κB phosphorylation. Based on our results, we can conclude that I. paraguariensis exerts its anti-inflammatory action by attenuating the Th1/Th17 polarization in this model. This fact suggests that the use of this plant as a beverage can protect against Th1/Th17 inflammatory diseases.

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Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil. is a native plant of South America widely consumed as beverages for its ethno pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypocholesterolemic as well as its benefits on the cardiovascular system. Since these properties are related to its chemical composition, the identification and quantification of the major compounds of I. paraguariensis extracts still remains relevant. The data described in this article supports previous results on the anti-inflammatory effect of I. paraguariensis A. St. Hil (Mate), “The anti-inflammatory effect of I. paraguariensis A. St. Hil (Mate) in a murine model of pleurisy” [1]. The present data article reports on nine major compounds identified in I. paraguariensis extracts and its related fractions by using UPLC-PDA and UPLC-QTOF. Identification of the constituents was based on their retention times, UV absorption spectra and mass spectra data, as well as by comparison with authentic samples. The validated parameters show that the quantification by UPLC-PDA methodology developed is sensitive, precise and accurate.

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Natural products have long been used worldwide as therapeutic agents, but it is only recently, in response to the new challenges posed by global population aging, that interest in research into potentially therapeutic natural products has reemerged. In this context, coumarins, chemical compounds found in plants that have known anti-inflammatory activity, are promising candidates for the development of new drugs. In this study we test the effect of scopoletin, a coumarin found in several plant species, on carrageenan-induced inflammation in the mouse model of pleurisy. Initially, the effects of scopoletin on leukocyte migration and exudate concentrations were evaluated at three different doses (0.1, 1 and 5 mg/kg) and time (0.5-4 h before pleurisy). In the next step, we chose the lowest dose capable of inhibiting the inflammatory parameters (1 mg/kg), in order to analyze the myeloperoxidase and adenosine deaminase activities, the nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin 1β levels in the fluid leakage, and the p65 subunit of NF-κB and p38 MAPK phosphorylation. Scopoletin at a dose of 1 mg/kg was able to significantly reduce cell migration and exudation to the pleural fluid (p < 0.01). Scopoletin at the same dose also decreased the myeloperoxidase and adenosine-deaminase activities and nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β levels (p < 0.01). In addition, it significantly reduced p65 and p38 phosphorylation in the mouse lungs (p < 0.01). Our results reinforce that scopoletin has important anti-inflammatory activity, and shows, that this effect can be attributed to the ability of this compound to inhibit the phosphorylation of NF-κB and p38 MAPK.