Table 1.
Anti-inflammatory mechanisms of action of compounds from Brazilian medicinal plants.
| Plant | Bioactive molecules | Mechanisms involved in the anti-inflammatory effects | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Achyrocline satureioides (Lam.) DC. | Quercitrin, isoquercitrin, 3-O-methylquercetin, luteolin, polysaccharides | Reduction of IFN-γ and IL-4 ratio Inhibition reactive oxygen species (ROS) |
Cosentino et al. (2008) Da Silva et al. (2016) |
| Ageratum conyzoides L. | 5′-Methoxy nobiletin, 1,2-benzopyrone, eupalestin | Reduction of nitric oxide metabolites concentrations (NOx) inhibition NF-κB | Mello et al. (2016) |
| Alternanthera brasiliana (L.) Kuntze | Phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, luteolin, pigenin, orientin, quercetin, vitexin | Non-elucidated mechanism | Formagio et al. (2012) Coutinho et al. (2017) |
| Amburana cearensis (Allemão) A.C. Sm. | Afrormosin | Inhibition of ROS generation Inhibition of neutrophil degranulation and TNF-α secretion Inhibition of PGE2 |
Lopes et al. (2013) |
| Anacardium occidentale L. | N.R. | Reduction of inducible nitric oxide (iNO) Reducing the inflammatory response modulation exerted by reactive oxygen species (ROS) Inhibition NF-κB- COX Inhibit the production of IL-6, TNF-α and PGE2 |
Olajide et al. (2013) Vasconcelos et al. (2015) |
| Anadenanthera colubrine (Vell.) Brenan | Flavonoid, saponins, catequins, phenols, steroids, tannins, terpenoids | Non-elucidated mechanism | Santos et al. (2013 |
| Astronium urundeuva (Allemão) Engl. Sideroxylon obtusifolium (Humb. ex Roem. & Schult.) T.D. Penn. | N.R. | Preventing lipid peroxidation through reducing thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). | Desmarchelier et al. (1999) |
| Austroplenckia populnea (Reissek) Lundell | Populnoic acid, campesterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol, epitaraxerol, amirine, lupenone, lupeol, lupeol acetate, friedalanol, friedelin | Non-elucidated mechanism | Andrade et al. (2007) |
| Baccharis Dracunculifolia DC. | Caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, aromadendrin-4-O-methyl ether, 3-prenyl-p-coumaric acid, 3,5-diprenyl-p-coumaric acid, baccharin, drupanin, artepillin C | Inhibition of lipid peroxidation and ROS release- COX Inhibit IL-6 production. |
Cestari et al. (2011) Bachiega et al. (2014) |
| Bouchea fluminensis (Vell.) Moldenke | Ursolic acid, oleanoic acid, micromeric acids lamiide | Prevention of lipid peroxidation through reducing thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) | Delaporte et al. (2002) |
| Byrsonima intermedia A. Juss. | Flavonoids, triterpenes, steroids, tannins saponins, catechin, phenolic compounds | Inhibition of protein kinase C and/or larginine-NO pathways Inhibition of the generation of superoxide anion |
Orlandia et al. (2011) Moreira et al. (2011) |
|
Byrsonima japurensis A. Juss. Calycophyllum spruceanum (Benth.) Hook. f. ex K. Schum. Maytenus guyanensis Klotzsch ex Reissek Passiflora nitida Kunth. Ptychopetalum olacoides Benth. |
Polyphenolic compounds | Highest free radical scavenging activities Inhibition of free radicals formation Inhibition of horseradish peroxidase and myeloperoxidase |
Vargas et al. (2016) |
| Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. ex Tul. | Polysaccharides | Negative modulation of histamine, serotonin, bradykinin, PGE2 and NO released Modulation and/or inhibition of inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β, NO and TGF-β). |
Pereira et al. (2012, 2016) Freitas et al. (2012) |
| Campomanesia adamantium (Cambess.) O. Berg | Myricitrin and myricetin (320 μg/mL 6.25–100 μM, respectively) | Inhibition of NO production Production of IL-10 |
Ferreira et al. (2013) |
| Carapa guianensis Aubl. | 6α-acetoxygedunin, 7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin, 6a-acetoxyepoxyazadiradione, methyl angolensate, andirobin and gedunin | Inhibiting IL-1 and TNF-α Formation of IL-5 |
Penido, Conte, Chagas, et al. (2006); Penido, Costa, Futuro, et al. (2006) and Henriques and Penido (2014) |
| Caryocar brasiliense Cambess. | Fatty acids, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, tocopherols, fitosterols | Reduction of the concentration of IL-6, IL-5 and TNF-α | Torres et al. (2016) |
| Cayaponia tayuya (Vell.) Cogn. | Vicenin-2, spinosin, sovitexin, swerticin, isoswerticin, cucurbitacins | Inhibition of iNOS- COX | Recio et al. (2004) Aquila et al. (2009) |
|
Chronopappus bifrons (DC. ex Pers.) DC Dasyphyllum brasiliense (Spreng.) Cabrera Eremanthus polycephalus (DC.) MacLeis Minasia scapigera H. Rob. Piptolepis monticola B. Loeuille Prestelia eriopus Sch. Bip. Solidago microglossa DC. Vernonia platensis (Spreng.) Less. |
Caffeoylquinicn acids, hyperoside, quercetrin, isoquercetrin, luteolin, apigenin, chrysoerio, eremantholide, goyazensolide, isorhamnetin | Inhibition of COX production | Chagas-Paula et al. (2015) |
| Cissampelos sympodialis Eichler | Milonine | Reduction levels of IL-1 and TNF-α Inhibition of PGE2 |
Silva et al. (2017) |
|
Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.) Cass. |
Limonene and β-myrcene | Inhibition of NO production inhibition of the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-4 |
Souza et al. (2003) |
|
Copaifera cearensis Huber ex Ducke Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. |
β-Caryophyllene and kaurenoic acid | Inhibition of NO production Reduce IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α Increase of IL-10 |
Veiga Junior et al. (2007) Gushiken et al. (2017) |
| Cordia verbenacea DC. | (−)-Trans-caryophyllene and α-humulene | Reduction of PGE2 Reduction of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) Inhibition of NF-κB- COX Inhibition of the production of TNF-α and IL-1 Inhibition of PGE2. |
Fernandes et al. (2007) and Medeiros et al. (2007) Passos et al. (2007) |
| Croton celtidifolius Baill. | N.R. | Free radicals scavenging activity Enhancement of the activity of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) enzyme |
Nardi et al. (2003, 2007) |
| Curatella americana L. | N.R. | Inhibition of PGE2 | Alexandre-Moreira et al. (1999) |
| Elephantopus scaber L. | N.R. | SOD scavenging activities Interfering with iNOS expression |
Chan et al. (2017) |
| Eugenia uniflora L. | Ellagic acid, gallic acid and rutin | Free radical scavenging activity | Schumacher et al. (2015) |
| Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce ex Müll. Arg.) Woodson | Plumericin | Inhibition of NF-κB | Fakhrudin et al. (2013) |
| Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit. | N.R. | Reduction of inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, IL-6 and TNF-α) | Raymundo et al. (2011) |
| Jatropha elliptica (Pohl) Oken | Saponins, alkaloids, phenolic | Non-elucidated mechanism | Ferreira-Rodrigues et al. (2016) |
| Justicia pectoralis Jacq. | Coumarins, flavonoids, saponins, tannins | Non-elucidated mechanism | Leal et al. (2000) |
| Kalanchoe brasiliensis Cambess. | Kalanchosine, dimalate, kalanchosine, malic acid | Non-elucidated mechanism | Mourão et al. (1999) Costa et al. (2006) |
| Magnolia ovata (A. St.-Hil.) Spreng. | Costunolide, parthenolide | Non-elucidated mechanism | Kassuya et al. (2009) |
| Marsypianthes chamaedrys (Vahl) Kuntze | Lupeol, sitosterol, ursolic acid and flavonoids. | Inhibition of IL-6 and TNF-α Inhibition of PGE2 |
Magalhães et al. (2011) |
| Miconia albicans (Sw.) Steud. | Ursolic acid, oleanoic acid | Non-elucidated mechanism | Vasconcelos et al. (2006) |
| Mikania glomerata Spreng. | Coumarin | Non-elucidated mechanism | Fierro et al. (1999) |
| Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão | Urundeuvines I, urundeuvines II, urundeuvines III, taninns | Non-elucidated mechanism | Souza et al. (2007) Viana et al. (2003) |
| Nectandra megapotamica (Spreng.) Mez | Galgravin, veraguensin | Non-elucidated mechanism | Da Silva Filho et al. (2004) |
| Passiflora nítida Kunth. | Flavanones, flavones, free flavonoids, flavonols, coumarins, steroids, phenols cyanogenic heterosides, cardioactive glycosides, leucoanthocyanidins, saponins, tannins and xanthones | Non-elucidated mechanism | Pereira et al. (2012) |
| Peschiera australis (Müll. Arg.) Miers | Coronaridine, tabersonine, olivacine, coronaridine-hydroxyindolenine, catharinensine, decarbomethoxyvoacamine, tabernamine, vanillic acid, syringic acid, gentisic acid and salicylic acid | Non-elucidated mechanism | Rates et al. (1993) |
| Petiveria alliacea L. | S-Propyl propanethiosulfinate and S-benzyl phenylmethanethiosulfinate | Inhibition of as IL-1, IL-2, INF-γ, TNF-α and IL-6 Inhibition of PGE2 |
Lopes-Martins et al. (2002) and Gutierrez and Hoyo-Vadillo (2017) |
| Piper marginatum Jacq. | Steroids, triterpenes, flavonoids, cinnamic derivatives and noradrenaline | Non-elucidated mechanism | D’Angelo et al. (1997) |
| Plantago major L. | Flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds and iridoid glycosides | Inhibition of PGE2 | Adom et al. (2017) |
| Plinia edulis (Vell.) Sobral | Gallic acid, myricitrin, guaijaverin, quercitrin, corosolic acid, maslinic acid, oleanolic acid and ursolic acid | Non-elucidated mechanism | Azevedo et al. (2016) |
|
Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.) Cass. Conyza bonariensis (L.) Cronquist |
Trans-β-ocimene, myrcene, limonene, 1-undecene and α-pinene. | Inhibition of NO production | Souza et al. (2003) |
| Psidium guineense Sw. | Spathulenol, sesquiterpenes | ROS scavenging activity | Nascimento et al. (2018) |
| Pterodon emarginatus Vogel | Lupeol, botulin and 6a, 7b-dihydroxy-vouacapan-17b-oic | Inhibition of PGE2 | Galceran et al. (2011) |
| Sambucus australis Cham. & Schltdl. | Rutin and quercetin as major compounds, and chlorogenic acid. | ROSD and NO scavenging activities Inhibition of NF-κB Inhibition of TNF-α |
Bahiense et al. (2017) |
| Schinopsis brasiliensis Engl. | Gallic acid | Inhibition of TNF-α | Santos et al. (2018) |
| Scoparia dulcis L. | Betulinic acid | Reduction of the levels of COX-2, NO, TNF-α and IL1-β in inflamed tissues | Tsai et al. (2011) |
| Sideroxylon obtusifolium (Humb. ex Roem. & Schult.) T.D. Penn. | N-Methyl-(2S,4R)-trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline | NF-κB-COX-inhibition of TNF-α | De Aquino et al. (2017) Tsai et al. (2011) |
| Stachytarpheta cayennensis (Rich.) Vahl | Ipolamiide, verbacoside | Non-elucidated mechanism | Penido, Conte, Chagas, et al. (2006); Penido, Costa, Futuro, et al. (2006) |
| Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. ex DC.) Standl. | 2-Formyl-5-(4′-methoxybenzoyloxy)-3-methyl-2-cyclopentene-1-acetaldehyde 2-formyl-5-(3′,4′-imethoxybenzoyloxy)-3-methyl-2-cyclopentene-1-acetaldehyde |
Non-elucidated mechanism | Koyama et al. (2000) |
| Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. | Uncarine F, mitraphyllene, speciophylline, pteropodine and isopteropodine | NF-κB-inhibition of IL-1, IL-17 and TNF-α | Allen-Hall et al. (2010) |
| Vanillosmopsis arborea (Gardner) Baker | Bisabolol, α-cadinol, elemicin, β-bisabolene, guaiene, cubebene and Estragole | Non-elucidated mechanism | Santos et al. (2015) |
| Virola michelii Heckel | Titonine | Non-elucidated mechanism | Carvalho, Ferreira, et al. (1999); Carvalho, Sertie, et al. (1999) |
| Wilbrandia ebracteata Cogn. | Cucurbitacins, dihydrocurcubitacin B, curcubitacins analogues | Inhibition of NO release-COX | Peters et al. (2003) Siqueira et al. (2007) |
| Ximenia americana L. | Phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins and glycosides | Non-elucidated mechanism | Olabissi et al. (2011) and Shettar et al. (2015) |
| Zanthoxylum riedelianum Engl. | Sesamin, methylpluviatolide, dimethylmatairesinol, piperitol-4′-o-g,g-dimethylallyl ether, kaerophyllin, hinokinin and lupeol | Non-elucidated mechanism | Lima et al. (2007) |
| Zeyheria montana Mart. | Zeyherin A, zeyherin b, oleanoic acid and ursolic acid | Non-elucidated mechanism | Guenka et al. (2008) |
N.R.: not reported.