Anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts and fractions from Erigeron multiradiatus through bioassay-guided procedures

Ethnopharmacological relevanceErigeron multiradiatus (Lindl.) Benth., an herb that grows in the alpine and subalpine meadow of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, has been widely used as a folk remedy by the native people for treatment of various inflammatory ailments.Aim of the studyIn order to isolate and identify the active components of Erigeron multiradiatus for anti-inflammatory activity, a preliminary phytochemical study and a bioassay-guided fractionation and purification process was performed.Material and MethodsThe dry whole plant Erigeron multiradiatus was extracted with 50% ethanol and then separated into CHCl3, n-BuOH, and aqueous fractions. The anti-inflammatory activities of each fraction were investigated using two in vivo inflammation models.ResultsThese results exhibited varying degrees of anti-inflammatory activities and the n-BuOH fraction showed the strongest anti-inflammatory activities. The n-BuOH fraction was then subjected to separation and purification using macroporous resins column chromatography and Sephadex LH-20 leading to two flavonoids glucuronides identified as scutellarein-7-O-β-glucuronide and apigenin-7-O-β-glucuronide. Furthermore, LC–MS/MS identification and quantification of isolated compounds were also performed.ConclusionScutellarein-7-O-β-glucuronide and apigenin-7-O-β-glucuronide were considered as major components and principally responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of Erigeron multiradiatus. Thus the results of our study provide a scientific basis for the utilization of Erigeron multiradiatus in traditional Tibetan medicine.