agnuside and Edema

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the probable mechanism for the anti-arthritic activity of agnuside (AGN), a compound isolated from the leaf extract of Vitex negundo.. The anti-inflammatory activity of AGN within a dose range of 1.56-12.50 mg/kg in normal and adrenalectomized rats was evaluated against different inflammagens. An array of pro-inflammatory mediators (PGE(2) and LTB(4)) and T-cell-mediated cytokines (IL-2, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17) was assayed using flow cytometry, in arthritic paw tissue homogenate and splenocytes of treated animals.. Significant anti-arthritic activity was observed in the polyarthritis test in rats and this was associated with significant suppression of inflammatory mediators and T-cell-mediated cytokines (Th1/Th2). The anti-inflammatory activity in adrenalectomized rats confirmed that the effect of AGN is not mediated by the pituitary-adrenal axis. AGN also showed inhibition of vascular permeability and leukocyte migration in vivo.. The study suggests the possible development of AGN as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of arthritis by the modulation of the host immune response.

Topics: Adrenalectomy; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Arthritis, Experimental; Capillary Permeability; Carrageenan; Cell Movement; Cytokines; Dextrans; Edema; Female; Glucosides; Histamine; Leukotriene B4; Lymphocytes; Male; Mice; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vitex

Six new iridoid glucosides, 6'-O-trans-feruloylnegundoside (1), 6'-O-trans-caffeoylnegundoside (2), 2'-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl-6'-O-trans-caffeoylgardoside (3), 2'-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl-6'-O-trans-caffeoyl-8-epiloganic acid (4), 2'-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl gardoside (5), and 2'-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl-8-epiloganic acid (6), along with two known iridoids, agnuside and negundoside, have been isolated from the ethyl acetate extractive of the leaves of Vitex altissima. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral data interpretation. These isolates did not exhibit significant 5-lipoxygenase enzyme inhibitory activity, but compounds 2-4 showed potent antioxidant activity by both the superoxide (NBT riboflavin photoreduction) free-radical-scavenging and DPPH-radical-scavenging methods. Compounds 1, 2, and negundoside were evaluated in a rat paw edema assay.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Biphenyl Compounds; Edema; Enzyme Inhibitors; Free Radical Scavengers; Glucosides; India; Iridoids; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Molecular Structure; Picrates; Plant Leaves; Plants, Medicinal; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Vitex