Anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective activity of Hypericum perforatum oil extracts

• Published in: Planta Medica
• Main Authors: Zdunić, G, Goðevac, D, Milenković, M, Šavikin, K, Petrović, S
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: German
• Published: 28.08.2007
• ISSN: 0032-0943; 1439-0221
• DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-987155

Oil extracts of flowering tops of Hypericum perforatum are popular remedies in traditional medicine of many countries. They are used externally for the treatment of wounds, first-degree burns, acute and contused injuries, myalgia and internally for dyspeptic complaints [1]. We prepared H. perforatum oil extracts in three different ways: by maceration of the fresh flowering tops in sunflower oil exposed to sunlight for 40 days (extract A) [2], by maceration of dried flowering tops with 96% EtOH followed by evaporation of the solvent in the presence of sunflower oil (extract B) [3], and by digestion of dried flowering tops in sunflower oil for 3h (extract C) [4]. Carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema test has been used as an experimental model for screening the anti-inflammatory activity according to the modified method of Oyanagui and Sato [5]. The extracts were administered p.o. in a dose of 1.25ml/kg to rats and compared with indomethacin, which was used as a reference at a dose of 8mg/kg p.o. Statistical analysis was performed by the Mann-Whitney exact test, and P<0.05 was considered as significant. The obtained anti-inflammatory effect was 88%, 96% and 77% for extract A, B and C, respectively. Indomethacin had an anti-inflammatory effect of 81%, but large gastric lesions were detected. When the investigated extracts (1.25ml/kg p.o.) were concomitantly given with indomethacin (8mg/kg p.o.), the gastric lesions were significantly reduced. Extract B showed the highest gastroprotective activity. According to the HPLC profiles, purified oil extract B had higher content of I-3,II-8-biapigenin than purified oil extract A, while in purified oil extract C, this compound has not been detected. References: [1] Blumenthal, M. et al. (eds) (1998) The Complete German Commission E Monographs. American Botanical Council. Austin. [2] Tucakov, J. (1996) Leèenje biljem. Rad. Beograd. [3] Shikov A. et al. (2004) Rastitel'nye masla i maslyanye ekstrakty: tehnologiya, standardizatsiya, svoistva. Ryskii vratch. Moskva. [4] Shass E. Yu. (1952) Fittoterapiya, An SSSR. [5] Oyanagui, Y., Sato, S. (1991) Arzneim.-Forsch./Drug Res. 41: 5.