Anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract and bioactive compounds identified from the fruits of Hancornia speciosa Gomes (Apocynaceae)

Abstract

BackgroundHancornia speciosa Gomes (Apocynaceae), popularly known as “mangabeira,” has been used in folk medicine to treat inflammatory disorders, hypertension, dermatitis, diabetes, liver diseases and gastric disorders. Although the ethnobotany indicates that its fruits can be used for the treatment of ulcers and inflammatory disorders, only few studies have been conducted to prove such biological activities. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of the aqueous extract of the fruits of H. speciosa Gomes as well as its bioactive compounds using in vivo experimental models.MethodsThe bioactive compounds were identified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS). The anti-inflammatory properties were investigated through in vivo tests, which comprised xylene-induced ear edema, carrageenan-induced peritonitis and zymosan-induced air pouch. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12 and TNF-α were determined using ELISA.ResultsRutin and chlorogenic acid were identified in the extract as the main secondary metabolites. In addition, the extract as well as rutin and chlorogenic acid significantly inhibited the xilol-induced ear edema and also reduced the cell migration in both carrageenan-induced peritonitis and zymosan-induced air pouch models. Reduced levels of cytokines were also observed.ConclusionThis is the first study that demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activity of the extract of H. speciosa fruits against different inflammatory agents in animal models, suggesting that its bioactive molecules, especially rutin and chlorogenic acid are, at least in part, responsible for such activity. These findings support the widespread use of Hancornia speciosa in popular medicine and demonstrate that its aqueous extract has therapeutical potential for the development of herbal drugs with anti-inflammatory properties.

Identification of Phenolic Compounds from Hancornia speciosa (Apocynaceae) Leaves by UHPLC Orbitrap-HRMS

“…Similar to the chemical composition of the leaves shown herein, the aqueous fruit extract of the same species showed the phenolics rutin and chlorogenic acid as prominent constituents. The fruit extract and the trunk latex exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in animal models [ 36 , 37 ]. Additionally, the latex showed significant angiogenic activity and a potential osteogenic effect, and had no cytotoxic or genotoxic effects on life systems [ 19 , 38 , 39 ].…”

Evidence of Bioactive Compounds from Vernonia polyanthes Leaves with Topical Anti-Inflammatory Potential

“…In this study, the authors showed for the first time that HEVP and EAEVP have topical anti-inflammatory effect, which is possibly related to the presence of secondary compounds, since some flavonoids (rutin, luteolin, and apigenin) were identified in EAEVP and this effect may involve different mechanisms in the cutaneous inflammation [28,29]. Rutin, for example, inhibited the xilol-induced ear edema and reduced the cell migration and the levels of cytokines were also observed [30], while luteolin exhibits anti-inflammatory effects by blocking the activity of heat shock protein 90 in macrophages [31]. In addition, apigenin has been effective against the LPS-induced acute lung injury due to its ability of primary inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression and nuclear factor kB (NF-kB) gene expression and the protective mechanism of apigenin may be attributed partly to decreased production of proinflammatory cytokines [32].…”

Effect of the Extract and Constituents From Hancornia speciosa Fruits in Osteoclasts

“…Only recently the fruits of H. speciosa have been investigated for their potential pharmacological activity. Rutin and chlorogenic acid were the bioactive constituents isolated from an aqueous extract of the fruits that showed a role in controlling inflammatory events [10]. The fruit pulp, in which phenolic compounds such as gallic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, vanillic acid, o-coumaric acid, rosmarinic acid, and rutin were identified, has shown an antimutagenic effect [11].…”

“…To date, only a few studies have investigated the potential therapeutic properties of H. speciosa fruits. A recent publication showed that rutin and chlorogenic acid, isolated from the aqueous extract of the fruits, were able to decrease edema and cell migration in different models of inflammation, and also reduce the levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α [10]. Another study showed that mangaba pulp has a potential antimutagenic effect [11].…”

“…Osteoclasts are pivotal cells in this process due to promoting bone resorption [12], and inflammatory mediators have an important role in the differentiation and activation of these cells [13]. Since mangaba fruits have shown anti-inflammatory properties [10], we herein investigated the effects of the fruit in bone resorbing cells. The fruits extract along with some fractions and compounds thereof had their activity tested in primary osteoclasts cultures from BMCs and also in osteoclasts derived from a monocyte/macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7.…”