Zuzarte Monica, Francisco Vera, Neves Bruno, Liberal Joana, Cavaleiro Carlos, Canhoto Jorge, Salgueiro Lígia, Cruz Maria Teresa
University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal.
University of Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal.
Front Pharmacol. 2022 Jan 25;12:695911. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.695911. eCollection 2021.
L´Hér. is an endemic Iberian species with a high essential oil yield and a pleasant lemon scent. Despite these interesting features, this species remains unrecognized and poorly explored by the food and pharmaceutical industries. Nevertheless, it has been valued in traditional medicine being used against flu, circulatory problems and to relieve headaches. Since these disorders trigger inflammatory responses, it is relevant to determine the anti-inflammatory potential of L´Hér. essential oil in an attempt to validate its traditional use and concomitantly to increment its industrial exploitation. Therefore, in the present study the chemical composition of this volatile extract as well as the effect on ROS production, inflammatory response and proteasome activity on LPS-stimulated macrophages were disclosed. Also, its safety profile on keratinocytes, hepatocytes and alveolar epithelial cells was depicted, envisioning a future human administration. The essential oil was characterized by high quantities of 1,8-cineole, camphor and α-pinene. From a pharmacological point of view, the essential oil showed a potent antioxidant effect and inhibited nitric oxide production through down-modulation of nuclear factor kappa B-dependent transcription and consequently iNOS protein expression as well as a decrease in proteasomal activity. The anti-inflammatory activity was also evidenced by a strong inhibition of LPS-induced and transcriptions and downregulation of COX-2 levels. Overall, bioactive safe concentrations of L´Hér. essential oil were disclosed, thus corroborating the traditional usage of this species and paving the way for the development of plant-based therapies.
L´Hér.是伊比利亚半岛的一种特有物种，精油产量高，具有宜人的柠檬香味。尽管有这些有趣的特性，但该物种在食品和制药行业仍未得到认可，且探索较少。然而，它在传统医学中受到重视，可用于治疗流感、循环系统问题和缓解头痛。由于这些疾病会引发炎症反应，因此确定L´Hér.精油的抗炎潜力具有重要意义，这有助于验证其传统用途，并同时增加其工业开发价值。因此，在本研究中，揭示了这种挥发性提取物的化学成分，以及对脂多糖刺激的巨噬细胞中活性氧生成、炎症反应和蛋白酶体活性的影响。此外，还描述了其对角质形成细胞、肝细胞和肺泡上皮细胞的安全性，为未来的人体应用提供参考。该精油的特征是含有大量的1,8-桉叶素、樟脑和α-蒎烯。从药理学角度来看，该精油显示出强大的抗氧化作用，通过下调核因子κB依赖性转录从而抑制一氧化氮的产生，进而降低诱导型一氧化氮合酶蛋白表达以及蛋白酶体活性。对脂多糖诱导的和转录的强烈抑制以及环氧合酶-2水平的下调也证明了其抗炎活性。总体而言，揭示了L´Hér.精油的生物活性安全浓度，从而证实了该物种的传统用途，并为基于植物的疗法的开发铺平了道路。
