Tripodanthus acutifolius, commonly known as Jamillo, is an herbal remedy
used in traditional Andean medicine to treat joint problems, such as sprains,
dislocations, and rheumatic pain. This study aimed to evaluate the in
vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity
of the aqueous extract and isolated compounds of T. acutifolius. A
bioguided phytochemical analysis based on NMR/MS was performed to
identify the compounds of the aqueous extract from T. acutifolius. The
anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity were evaluated by measuring
inflammatory parameters (TNF-α, C-reactive protein, and
fibrinogen) in murine models. The chemical structure determination led to the
identification of four flavonoids:
(E)-2’,4’-dihydroxy-6’-methoxy-chalcone
(1), 6,2’,4’-trimethoxyflavone (2),
5,3’,4’-trihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxyflavone (3), and
5,4’-dihydroxy-6,7,8-trimethoxyflavone (4). All compounds
inhibited the production of TNF-α in the RAW 264.7 cell line,
with IC50 values of 0.78, 1.43, 5.73, and 9.71 μM,
respectively. In addition, all flavonoids decreased the levels of
TNF-α, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen at a concentration
of 5 mg/kg in murine models. Our research shows that these compounds
isolated from T. acutifolius have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic
properties, providing scientific evidence for the traditional use of this plant
species.