Bioactivity guided evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Arceuthobium oxycedri (D.C.) M. Bieb.

Ethnopharmacological relevanceArceuthobium oxycedri (D.C.) M. Bieb. (Loranthaceae) or dwarf mistletoe is a rare semi-parasitic plant that lives on the branches of Juniperus oxycedrus as the host plant. In Turkish folk medicine, the plant is prescribed as a panacea for every kind of diseases, including, against infectious and inflammatory disorders of upper respiratory system and gastro-intestinal complaints or as a hypotensive remedy.Aim of the studyIn the current study, in vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of Arceuthobium oxycedri have been investigated.Material and methodsThe crude ethanolic extract of the whole plant was sequentially fractionated into five subextracts; explicitly, n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol, and remaining water extracts. Further studies were carried out on the most active subextract, i.e. the EtOAc subextract, was further subjected to fractionation through successive column chromatographic applications on Silica gel 60, Sephadex LH-20 and LiChropep RP-18. For the activity assessment, each extract or fraction was submitted to bioassay systems; carrageenan-induced hind paw edema model for anti-inflammatory activity and p-benzoquinone induced abdominal contraction test for antinociceptive activity assessment.ResultsAmong the extracts obtained, the ethanolic extract, EtOAc and n-butanol subextracts showed significant inhibitory activity in the bioassay systems. From the EtOAc subextract, a major component was isolated and its structure was determined as (+)-catechin by means of spectral techniques.ConclusionPresent study confirms the claimed utilization of the plant against inflammatory complaints in Turkish folk medicine.

Arceuthobium oxycedri (D.C.) M. Bieb. (Loranthaceae) or dwarf mistletoe is a rare semi-parasitic plant that lives on the branches of Juniperus oxycedrus as the host plant. In Turkish folk medicine, the plant is prescribed as a panacea for every kind of diseases, including, against infectious and inflammatory disorders of upper respiratory system and gastro-intestinal complaints or as a hypotensive remedy. In the current study, in vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of Arceuthobium oxycedri have been investigated. From the EtOAc subextract a major component was isolated and its structure was determined as (+)-catechin by means of spectral techniques. Present study confirms the claimed utilization of the plant against inflammatory complaints in Turkish folk medicine.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide