| Abstract | Ranunculus (Crowfoot) species are numerous and they are all reputed to be counter-irritants and are used in several topical conditions. In order to study the pharmacological mechanisms of action underlying this popular use, a methanol extract of Ranunculus peltatus was tested in vitro in various assays involving eicosanoid and human elastase release by intact cells as well as in vivo, with models of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) contact dermatitis. The extract proved to be a selective inhibitor of the cyclooxygenase-1 pathway, producing the total inhibition of 12-(S)-HHTrE release at 200 microg/mL, while leaving both 5-lipoxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase activities unaffected at the same dose. The n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions of the crude methanol extract inhibited LTB(4) release by intact rat peritoneal neutrophils, but more polar fractions were inactive and did not increase the 5-LOX activity as seen previously for extracts of other Ranunculus species. In the in vivo models, the methanol extract reduced the dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced oedema by 40%, but failed to inhibit the oedema brought on by oxazolone. The results agree with the age-old assertion that Water Crowfoot species can be used as a topical antiinflammatory remedy without the prominent irritant action that accompanies the application of non-aquatic Ranunculus species. |
| Authors | J M Prieto, M C Recio, R M Giner, G R Schinella, S Máñez, J L Ríos
(Affiliation: Departament de Farmacologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés, s/n. 46100 Burjassot, València, Spain. jose.prieto at pharmacy.ac.uk)
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| Journal | Phytotherapy research : PTR
(Phytother Res)
Vol. 22
Issue 3
Pg. 297-302
(Mar 2008)
ISSN: 1099-1573 England |
| PMID | 18058987
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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