Planta Med 2004; 70(6): 502-508
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-827148
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Leontopodium alpinum and its Constituents

Michael J. Dobner1 , Silvio Sosa2 , Stefan Schwaiger1 , Gianmario Altinier2 , Roberto Della Loggia2 , Nicole C. Kaneider3 , Hermann Stuppner1
  • 1Institut für Pharmazie, Abteilung Pharmakognosie, Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
  • 2DEMREP, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
  • 3Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin, Klinische Abteilung für Allgemeine Innere Medizin, Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
We wish to thank: Austrian Science Fund (FWF) for Grant No P-14 389 BOT. The work was partially supported also by a grant of the Italian Ministry for University and Scientific Research (Project ”Fititerapici: ottimizzazione delle caratteristiche tecnologiche e biofarmaceutiche”)
Further Information

Publication History

Received: November 5, 2003

Accepted: March 3, 2004

Publication Date:
01 July 2004 (online)

Preview

Abstract

The aerial parts and roots of Leontopodium alpinum Cass. (Asteraceae) were investigated for their in vivo topical anti-inflammatory activity using the inhibition of Croton oil-induced ear dermatitis in mice. For both of the plant parts, the dichloromethane extract induced a dose-dependent oedema reduction, being more active than the methanol and 70 % aqueous methanol extracts. Moreover, the dichloromethane extract of the aerial parts was more active than that of the roots (ID50 = 221 and 338 μg/cm2, respectively). Fatty acids make a significant contribution to the anti-oedema activity of the dichloromethane extract of the aerial parts, whereas bisabolane sesquiterpenes, tricyclic sesquiterpenes, coumarins and lignans are involved in the activity of the root extract. Two bisabolane derivatives reduced also the polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes accumulation in the inflamed tissue, while a 7α-silphiperfol-5-ene type sesquiterpene and a coumarin derivative inhibited the in vitro chemotaxis of these inflammatory cells.

References

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Hermann Stuppner

Institut für Pharmazie

Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck

Innrain 52

6020 Innsbruck

Austria

Phone: +43-512-507-5300

Fax: +43-512-507-2939

Email: Hermann.Stuppner@uibk.ac.at