The Journal of Phytopharmacology, 2020;9(3):169-174 DOI:10.31254/phyto.2020.9303

Research Article

Anti-inflammatory activity of chemical constituents from Echinops gracilis (Asteraceae)

Fidèle Castro Weyepe Lah^1,2 , Armelle Deutou Tchamgoue¹ , Jean Pierre Abdou³ , Theodora Kopa Kowa¹ , Hippolyte Kamdem Wabo⁴ , Alembert Tiabou Tchinda¹ , Gabriel Agbor Agbor¹ , Michel Frédérich⁵ , Etienne Dongo²

Fidèle Castro Weyepe Lah,Armelle Deutou Tchamgoue,Jean Pierre Abdou,Theodora Kopa Kowa,Hippolyte Kamdem Wabo,Alembert Tiabou Tchinda,Gabriel Agbor Agbor,Michel Frédérich,Etienne Dongo

1. Centre for Research on Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine, Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies, P.O. Box 13033, Yaounde, Cameroon
2. Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. Box 812 Yaounde, Cameroon
3. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454 Ngaoundere, Cameroon
4. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon
5. Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines, CIRM, University of Liege, B36, 4000 Liege, Belgium

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 12th March, 2020 / Accepted: 12th May, 2020

Abstract

The present work concerns the anti-inflammatory activity of chemical constituents isolated from the roots of Echinops gracilis. The anti-inflammatory activity of the ethyl acetate extract as well as compounds 1, 2, and 3 were evaluated using inhibition of protein denaturation and antiproteinase methods. Structural elucidation was achieved through analysis of NMR spectra (1H and 13C, 1H1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC) and literature survey. Seven compounds were identified as erythrinasinate (1), vogelate (2), ferulic acid (3), p-coumaric acid (4), ursolic acid (5), oleanolic acid (6), and quercetin (7). All the isolated compounds were reported for the first time from this plant. Ethyl acetate extract showed potent inhibitory activity against protein denaturation (IC50 = 125.54 µg/mL). Erythrinasinate (1) and vogelate (2) showed a significant anti-inflammatory activity with an IC50 value of 469.43 and 413.71 µg/mL, respectively. The results obtained from the ethyl acetate extract can justify the use of E. gracilis roots in traditional medicine for the treatment of rheumatism.