Alteration of Neutrophil Reactive Oxygen Species Production by Extracts of Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum)

Abstract

Harpagophytum, Devil's Claw, is a genus of tuberiferous xerophytic plants native to southern Africa. Some of the taxa are appreciated for their medicinal effects and have been traditionally used to relieve symptoms of inflammation. The objectives of this pilot study were to investigate the antioxidant capacity and the content of total phenols, verbascoside, isoverbascoside, and selected iridoids, as well as to investigate the capacity of various Harpagophytum taxa in suppressing respiratory burst in terms of reactive oxygen species produced by human neutrophils challenged with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), opsonised Staphylococcus aureus, and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Harpagophytum plants were classified into different taxa according to morphology, and DNA analysis was used to confirm the classification. A putative new variety of H. procumbens showed the highest degree of antioxidative capacity. Using PMA, three Harpagophytum taxa showed anti-inflammatory effects with regard to the PBS control. A putative hybrid between H. procumbens and H. zeyheri in contrast showed proinflammatory effect on the response of neutrophils to F. nucleatum in comparison with treatment with vehicle control. Harpagophytum taxa were biochemically very variable and the response in suppressing respiratory burst differed. Further studies with larger number of subjects are needed to corroborate anti-inflammatory effects of different taxa of Harpagophytum.

Antientzündliche Mechanismen von Arzneipflanzen

“…Eine antiinflammatorische Wirkung wurde auch mit den enthaltenen Flavonoiden assoziiert [15]. In einer aktuellen Arbeit wurde gezeigt, dass Harpagophytum-Wurzeln je nach Standort sehr unterschiedliche Gehalte von Verbascosid, Isoverbascosid und Iridoiden aufwiesen und dass bei einigen die antioxidative Kapazität sehr hoch war, aber nur bei wenigen war eine antiinflammatorische Wirkung nachweisbar [16]. Auch im aktuellen Assessmentreport des HMPC zu Teufelskrallenextrakten, der zahlreiche In-vitro-und In-vivo-Studien aufführt, bleiben die Wirkmechanismen unklar [17].…”

Vitexin Mitigates Staphylococcus aureus-Induced Mastitis via Regulation of ROS/ER Stress/NF-κB/MAPK Pathway

“…Oxidative stress caused by S. aureus produces oxidants that react with cell macromolecules [ 10 ]. The accumulation of a large number of reactive oxygen species (ROS) attacked oxidized proteins, lipids, and DNA to cause oxidative damage is a characteristic of many inflammatory diseases [ 11 ]. ROS causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which breaks the ER redox environment and induces protein folding errors [ 12 , 13 ].…”