Fawole O A, Ndhlala A R, Amoo S O, Finnie J F, Van Staden J
Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Jun 22;123(2):237-43. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.03.012. Epub 2009 Mar 24.
The investigated medicinal plants are commonly used for the treatment of pains and cramps related to gastro-intestinal tract infections in South African traditional medicine.
This study aimed to evaluate the ability of the plant extracts to inhibit cyclooxygenase enzymes. Phytochemical analysis was also carried out in the quest to determine some plant metabolites that may be responsible for the observed anti-inflammatory activity.
The cyclooxygenase assay was used to test for the anti-inflammatory activity of the plant extracts using cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1 and COX-2) enzymes. Total phenolic compounds including condensed tannins, gallotannins and flavonoids were quantitatively determined using spectrophotometric methods. Qualitative tests for alkaloids and saponins were also carried out.
Most of the plant extracts evaluated showed dose dependent activity against COX-1 and/or COX-2 enzymes. Agapanthus campanulatus root dichloromethane extract showed the highest COX-2 inhibitory activity (83.7%) at 62.5 microg/ml. The presence and/or amounts of phenolics, condensed tannins, gallotannins, flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins varied with plant parts and species.
The results support the use of the investigated plant in treating pain and cramp related to gastro-intestinal tract infections. To some extent, the observed anti-inflammatory activity could be attributed to the various plant secondary metabolites detected in the plant materials.
在南非传统医学中，所研究的药用植物通常用于治疗与胃肠道感染相关的疼痛和痉挛。
本研究旨在评估植物提取物抑制环氧化酶的能力。还进行了植物化学分析，以确定一些可能导致观察到的抗炎活性的植物代谢产物。
使用环氧化酶测定法，利用环氧化酶-1和-2（COX-1和COX-2）酶测试植物提取物的抗炎活性。采用分光光度法对包括缩合单宁、没食子单宁和黄酮类化合物在内的总酚类化合物进行定量测定。还进行了生物碱和皂苷的定性试验。
大多数评估的植物提取物对COX-1和/或COX-2酶表现出剂量依赖性活性。蓝花君子兰根二氯甲烷提取物在62.5微克/毫升时显示出最高的COX-2抑制活性（83.7%）。酚类、缩合单宁、没食子单宁、黄酮类、生物碱和皂苷的存在和/或含量因植物部位和种类而异。
结果支持所研究的植物用于治疗与胃肠道感染相关的疼痛和痉挛。在一定程度上，观察到的抗炎活性可归因于在植物材料中检测到的各种植物次生代谢产物。
