Anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of five Veronica species

Biol Pharm Bull. 2002 Apr;25(4):483-6. doi: 10.1248/bpb.25.483.

Abstract

Biological activities of five Veronica species (Scrophulariaceae), V. cymbalaria, V. hederifolia, V. pectinata var. glandulosa, V. persica and V. polita were studied for their anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities. Their methanol extracts showed both the inhibitory activity of nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages and cytotoxic activity against KB epidermoid carcinoma and B16 melanoma. When the methanol extracts were fractionated between water and chloroform, water fractions significantly inhibited NO production without any cytotoxicity, while chloroform fractions showed cytotoxicity dose-dependently. When the radical scavenging activity was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), water fractions of the five Veronica species scavenged free radicals effectively, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of this species on NO production was due to their radical scavenging activity. On the other hand, chloroform fractions of Veronica species except for V. cymbalaria showed similar cytotoxic activity against KB and B16 melanoma cells.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / toxicity
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • KB Cells
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Melanoma, Experimental
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Nitric Oxide / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nitric Oxide / biosynthesis
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / toxicity
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / drug effects
  • Veronica / chemistry
  • Veronica / toxicity*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Plant Extracts
  • Nitric Oxide