Flavonoid Profile of the Genista tridentata L., a Species Used Traditionally to Treat Inflammatory Processes

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological surveys on Portuguese flora reveal that Genista tridentata L. is a shrub used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various inflammation-related health problems, although scientific support of its benefits is still necessary. In order to establish the anti-inflammatory potential of G. tridentata and support its traditional use, ethanolic extracts of three sections of the plant (root, stem, and leaves) were subjected to in vitro evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulates macrophages as an inflammation model. Simultaneously, we also aimed to establish the extracts’ flavonoids profile. The ethanolic extracts, obtained by Soxhlet extraction, profile of the three sections confirmed their richness in flavonoids, being three prenylated flavonoids isolated and characterized in the root, including a new natural compound, the 3-methoxymundulin. The extracts from the three plant sections showed strong antioxidant activity at the cellular level and significantly inhibit the LPS-triggered NO production by downregulating Nos2 gene transcription and consequently iNOS expression. Additionally, root and stem extracts also decreased the LPS-induced transcription of the pro-inflammatory genes Il1b, Il6, and Ptgs2. Thus, the results support the anti-inflammatory properties attributed to G. tridentate preparations. Relevantly, the roots of the shrub, plant part not used, is an unexplored source of compounds with pharmacological and nutraceutical value.

Chemical profile and antioxidant activity of Sesbania bispinosa (Jacq.) W. Wight aerial parts and seeds extracts

“…The seeds extract comprises two peaks, at 7.72 and 7.92 min (Figure 1b), identified as caffeoylshikmic acid and taxifolin glucoside, respectively (Table 2). In both cases, the fragment pattern is analogous to previously reported data (Faustino et al., 2018; Simões et al., 2020), allowing their unequivocal identification.…”

“…In the case of delphinidin 3‐ O ‐glucoside, the pseudomolecular ion [M‐H] − ( m/z 464) is detected, as well as the expected fragment ion at m/z 302 due to the loss of the glucose unit ([M‐H‐glucose] − ) (Strugała et al, 2016) and the fragment ion at m/z 285 due to the loss of the O ‐glucose unit ([M‐H‐ O‐ glucose] − ). Other typical glucose fragmentation, such as [M‐H‐C 3 H 6 O 3 ] − ( m/z 374) and [M‐H‐C 4 H 8 O 4 ] − ( m/z 344), were also observed (Simões et al., 2020).…”

Genista tridentata L.: A Rich Source of Flavonoids with Anti-Inflammatory Activity

“…Hot water Antioxidant (TABARS, IC 50 = 8.4 ± 0.2 µg/mL; OxHLIA, IC 50 = 37.7 ± 0.9 µg/mL) TBARS inhibition Oxidative haemolysis inhibition [31] Flowers Hydromethanolic Antifungal (Candida albicans, 10 mm inhibition zone; Candida glabrata, 11 mm inhibition zone) Disc diffusion test [32] Aerial parts Hydromethanolic Antibacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, MIC = 39.1 µg/mL) Microplate bioassay [33] Flowers Hot water Antimicrobial (Escherichia coli, MIC = 0.5 mg/mL; Salmonela typhimurium, MIC = 1 mg/mL; Bacillus cereus, MIC = 1 mg/mL; Listeria monocytogenes, MIC = 1 mg/mL; Aspergillus niger, MIC = 8 mg/mL; Aspergillus versicolor, MIC = 0.5 mg/mL; Penicillium funiculosum, MIC = 0.5 mg/mL; Penicillium verrucosum, MIC = 0.5 mg/mL) LPS-induced transcription of pro-inflammatory genes IL-1β, Nos2, Ptgs2, IL-6, and TNF-α; Western blot analysis [8,35] AA, antioxidant activity; GI 50 , values correspond to the concentration that causes 50% inhibition of cell proliferation; IC 50 , values corresponded to the extract concentration that inhibits in 50% the oxidation and inflammatory process; MIC, minimum inhibitory concentration.…”

“…Other evaluations, such as antifungal [32], antibacterial [31,33] agents, cytotoxicity activity in tumor and non-tumor cells [31], and even the immunostimulatory activity of the G. tridentata polysaccharides [34] were also performed. Additionally, Ferreira et al also performed in vivo and in vitro toxicological assays and concluded that short-term use is safe [8,28].…”

“…Flavonoids, a large family of natural compounds, are usually associated with anti-inflammatory activity [7], and most recently, we demonstrated that G. tridentata is rich in flavonoid derivatives [8], including some for which anti-inflammatory activities have been described. As examples, genistein, daidzein [9,10], and biochanin A [11,12] can be highlighted.…”