Interest in the anti-inflammatory effects of Ligustrum vulgare L., which has been used traditionally in China and Japan prompted us to determine anti-inflammatory effects of the plant's compounds in leukocytes. The leaves of L. vulgare were used to prepare a decoction which was successively extracted with organic solvents (dichloromethane (DCM), n-butanol, ethyl acetate) using liquid-liquid partition. Extracts were tested for inhibition of LTB4, resp. PGE2 biosynthesis. Each extract was evaluated for its in vitro cyclooxygenase-1/2 (COX-1/2) inhibitory activity using assays with purified COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, as well as for their LTB4 formation inhibitory activity using an assay with activated human neutrophil granulocytes. All extracts reported inhibitory actions against COXs in comparison with the synthetic inhibitors NS-398 (IC50 = 2.6 μM) and indomethacin (IC50 = 0.9 μM). The dichloromethane extract of privet leaves showed a considerable inhibitory effect against COX-1 and COX-2 enzyme activity. The DCM extract revealed 2.7 times higher inhibitory activity against LTB4 formation in comparison with the known specific LT inhibitor zileuton (IC50 = 5.0 μM). Additionally, oleuropein and echinacoside were detected by HPLC-DAD and LC-MS in the Ligustrum vulgare leaves. Both compounds exhibited weak inhibitory activity on cyclooxygenases and leukotriene formation.
ZhuF., CaiY.Z., SunM., KeJ., LuD., CorkeH. (2009) Comparison of major phenolic constituents and in vitro antioxidant activity of diverse Kudingcha genotypes from Ilex kudingcha, Ilex cornuta, and Ligustrum robustum. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 57, 6082–6089.
2.
MučajiP., NagyM., ZáhradníkováA., HolkováI., BezákováL., ŠvajdlenkaE., LiptajT., PrónayováN. (2011) Polar constituents of Ligustrum vulgare L. and their effect on lipoxygenase activity. Chemical Papers, 65, 367–372; (b) Wu CR, Lin WH, Lin YT, Wen CL, Ching H, Lin LW. (2011) Analgesic and anti-inflammatory property of the methanol extract from Ligustrum morrisonense leaves in rodents. American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 39, 335–348; (c) Baróniková S, Nagy M, Grančai D. (1999) Changes in immunomodulatory activity of human mononuclear cells after cultivation with leaf decoctions from the genus Ligustrum L. Phytotherapy, 13, 692–695.
3.
JensenS.R., FranzykaH., WallanderbE. (2002) Chemotaxonomy of the Oleaceae: iridoids as taxonomic markers. Phytochemistry, 60, 213–231.
4.
YimT.K., WuW.K., PakW.F., KoK.M. (2001) Hepatoprotective action in an oleanolic acid-enriched extracts of Ligustrum lucidum fruits is mediated through an enhancement on hepatic glutathione regeneration capacity in mice. Phytotherapy Research, 15, 5897–592; (b) Ma SCH, He ZD, Deng XL, But PP, Ooi VE, Xu HX, Lee SH, Lee SF. (2001) In vitro evaluation of secoiridoid glucosides from the fruits of Ligustrum lucidum as antiviral agents. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 49, 14717–1473; (c) Shoemaker M, Hamilton B, Dairkee SH, Cohen I, Campbell MJ. (2005) In vitro anticancer activity of twelve Chinese medicinal herbs. Phytotherapy Research, 19, 6492–6511.
5.
WuC.R., LinW.H., HseuY.C., LienJ.C., LinY.T., KuoT.P., ChingH. (2011) Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of five endemic Ligustrum species leaves from Taiwan flora in vitro. Food Chemistry, 127, 564–571.
6.
NagyM., KrižkováL., MučajiP., KontšekováZ., ŠeršeňF., KrajčovičJ. (2009) Antimutagenic activity and radical scavenging activity of water infusions and phenolics from Ligustrum plants leaves. Molecules, 14, 509–518; (b) Jantová S, Nagy M, Ružeková E, Grančai D. (2000) Antibacterial activity of plant extracts from the families Fabaceae, Oleaceae, Philadelphaceae, Rosaceae, and Staphyleaceae. Phytotherapy Research, 14, 601–603.
7.
MučajiP., NagyM., GrančaiD., ŠvajdlenkaE. (2006) Flavonoid glycosides of Ligustrum vulgare L. Farmaceutický obzor, 75, 266–271.
8.
KissA.K., MańkM., MelzigM.F. (2008) Dual inhibition of metallopeptidases ACE and NEP by extracts and iridoids from Ligustrum vulgare L. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 120, 220–225.
9.
ŠeršeňF., MučajiP., GrančaiD., NagyM., ŠvajdlenkaE. (2006) Constituents of butanol extract from leaves of Ligustrum vulgare L. Acta Facultatis Pharmaceuticae Universitatis Comenianae, 53, 253–261.
10.
NagyM., ŠpilkováJ., VrchovskáV., KontšekováZ., ŠeršeňF., MučajiP. (2006) Free radical scavenging activity of different extracts and some constituents from the leaves of Ligustrum vulgare and L. delavayanum. Fitoterapia, 77, 395–397; (b) Kontšeková Z, Mučaji P, Nagy M. (2008) Stanovenie antioxidačnej aktivity a obsahových látok rôznym spôsobom pripravených vodných extraktov z konárov a listov Ligustrum vulgare L. (in Slovak). Chemické listy, 102, 179–264; (c) Mučaji P, Nagy M, Liptaj T, Prónayová N, Švajdlenka E. (2009) Separation of a mixture of luteolin-7-rutinoside and luteolin-7-neohesperidoside isolated from Ligustrum vulgare L. Journal of Planar Chromatography, 4, 301–304.
11.
KrohnK., FarooqU., HussainH., AhmedI., RheinheimerJ., DraegerS., SchulzB., van ReeT. (2011) Phomosines H–J, novel highly substituted biaryl ethers, isolated from the endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. from Ligustrum vulgare. Natural Product Communications, 6, 1907–1912.
12.
De la PuertaR., GutierrezV.R., HoultJ.R.S. (1999) Inhibition of leukocyte 5-lipoxygenase by phenolics from virgin olive oil. Biochemical Pharmacology, 57, 445–449.
13.
EdgecombeS.C., StretchG.L., HayballP.J. (2000) Oleuropein, an antioxidant polyphenol from olive oil, is poorly absorbed from isolated perfused rat intestine. The Journal of Nutrition, 130, 2996–3002.
14.
PetroniA., BlasevichM., PapiniN., SalamiM., SalaA., GalliC. (1997) Inhibition of leukocyte leukotriene B-4 production by an olive oil-derived phenol identified by mass-spectrometry. Thrombosis Research, 87, 315–322.
15.
WenzigE.M., WidowitzU., KunertO., ChrubasikS., BucarF., KnauderE., BauerR. (2008) Phytochemical composition and in vitro pharmacological activity of two rose hip (Rosa canina L.) preparations. Phytomedicine, 15, 826–835.
16.
AdamsM., KunertO., HaslingerE., BauerR. (2004) Inhibition of leukotriene biosynthesis by quinolone alkaloids from the fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa. Planta Medica, 70, 904–908; (b) Byrum RS, Goulet JL, Griffiths RJ, Koller BH. (1997) Role of the 5-lipoxygenase–activating protein (FLAP) in murine acute inflammatory responses. The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 185, 1065–1076.
17.
SchneiderI., BucarF. (2005) Lipoxygenase inhibitors from natural plant sources. Part 1: Medicinal plants with inhibitory activity on arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase/cyclooxygenase. Phytotherapy Research, 19, 81–102.
18.
ZhaiZ., SolcoA., WuL., WurteleE.S., KohutM.L., MurphyP.A., CunnickJ.E. (2009) Echinacea increases arginase activity and has anti-inflammatory properties in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, indicative of alternative macrophage activation. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 122, 76–85; (b) Speroni E, Govoni P, Guizzardi S, Renzulli C, Guerra MC. (2002) Anti-inflammatory and cicatrizing activity of Echinacea pallida Nutt. root extract. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 79, 265–272; (c) Bauer R. (1996) Echinacea drugs - effects and active ingredients. Zeitschrift für Ärztliche Fortbildung, 90, 111–115.
19.
JohnsonJ.L., WimsattJ., BuckelS.D., DyerR.D., MaddipatiK.R. (2005) Purification and characterisation of prostaglandin H synthase-2 from sheep placental cotyledons. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 324, 26–34.
20.
MučajiP., ZáhradníkováA., BezákováL., CupákováM., RauováD., NagyM. (2011) HPLC determination of antilipoxygenase activity of a water infusion of Ligustrum vulgare L. leaves and some of its constituents. Molecules, 16, 8198–8208.
KnödlerM., ConradJ., WenzigE.M., BauerR., LacornM., BeifussU., CarleR., SchieberA. (2008) Anti-inflammatory 5-(11Z-heptadecenyl)- and 5-(8Z,11Z-heptadecadienyl)-resorcinol from mango (Mangifera indica L.) peels. Phytochemistry, 69, 988–993.
23.
FiebichB.L., GrozdevaM., HessS., HüllM., DaneschU., BodensieckA., BauerR. (2005) Petasites hybridus extracts in vitro inhibit COX-2 and PGE2 release by direct interaction with the enzyme and by preventing p42/44 MAP kinase activation in rat primary microglial cells. Planta Medica, 71, 12–19.
24.
ReiningerE.A., BauerR. (2006) Prostaglandin-H- synthase (PGHS)-1 and –2 microtiter assays for the testing of herbal drugs and in vitro inhibition of PGHS-isoenzymes by polyunsaturated fatty acids from Platycodi radix. Phytomedicine, 13, 164–169.
25.
RossiA., PergolaC., KoeberleA., HoffmannM., DehmF., BramantiP., CuzzocreaS., WerzO., SautebinL. (2010) The 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, zileuton, suppresses prostaglandin biosynthesis by inhibition of arachidonic acid release in macrophages. British Journal of Pharmacology, 161, 555–570.
