Confertin and scopoletin from leaf and root extracts of Hypochaeris radicata have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities

• Hypochaeris radicata is prescribed by Thoda tribals of Nilgiris for the treatment of inflammation.
• Confertin and scopoletin were isolated from the methanolic leaf and root extracts respectively which showed potent anti-inflammatory activity than their respective crude extracts.
• The activity was substantiated by decreased levels of serum cytokine, histopathological observations, in vivo antioxidant activities and PASS software prediction.
• Synthetic confertin and scopoletin might be used to conserve their natural resource.

Hypochaeris radicata is being prescribed by the local healers and Thoda tribals of Nilgiris, the Western Ghats, India for the treatment of inflammation and various other ailments. This study was designed to explore the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of crude extracts, and the two isolated compounds, confertin and scopoletin from methanolic leaf and root extracts respectively in order to confirm the folkloric claim. Their effects were studied using carrageenan induced acute inflammation in rats. Indomethacin was used as the standard drug for comparison. Cytokine assay to measure the levels of proinflammatory mediators, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in serum was made. Histopathological and in vivo antioxidant studies were carried out using standard procedures. Therapeutic potential of the isolated compounds was further studied using PASS software. In acute inflammation, the isolated compounds showed more potent activity by inhibiting the paw oedema than the respective crude extracts. Furthermore, the compounds, confertin and scopoletin (10 mg/kg b.w.) suppressed the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 and enhanced more prominent antioxidant activity, which was supported by histopathological observations. The obtained results, therefore, suggest that the compounds, confertin and scopoletin are prominent constituents of this species and they may be used as a remedy for inflammatory disorders.