Anti-inflammatory and toxicological evaluation of Moussonia deppeana (Schldl. & Cham) Hanst and Verbascoside as a main active metabolite

Ethnopharmacological relevance Moussonia deppeana, known as Tlachichinole, is a Mexican medicinal plant used for treatment of inflammatory diseases, influenza, diarrhea, gastrointestinal disorders and arthritis. Aim of the study In this paper the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities as well as the acute and sub-acute toxicological effects were evaluated for the ethanolic extract from aerial parts of M. deppeana, also its phytochemical analysis is described. Materials and methods Phytochemical analysis and compound isolation were performed with thin layer chromatography. The chemical identification of the main compound was performed by ¹H NMR (COSY, NOESY, HSQC and HMBC) spectra. In vitro antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content for the ethanolic extract and its primary fractions was determined by DPPH and Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. Acute and subacute toxicity tests were evaluated on Balb/C mice. Finally acute anti-inflammatory evaluation was tested for a local (TPA) and systemic (carrageenan) murine model. Results The main compound isolated from the ethanolic extract of M. deppeana was Verbascoside, which was isolated from F3 and was identified by ¹H NMR and COSY data. Furthermore oleanolic and ursolic acids were isolated from primary fractions F1 and F2. Ethanolic extract showed IC₅₀ = 6.71 mg/mL for DPPH test and 664.12 μg QE/mL for the total phenolic content. The LD₅₀ value was >2 g/kg by i.g. route in male and female mice. Sub-acute administration (28 days) of the ethanolic extract (1 g/kg) did not cause lethality or alter any hematological and biochemical parameters, in addition, histological analysis of the major organs exhibited no structural changes. Anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanolic extract showed an ED₅₀ = 1.5 mg/ear and 450 mg/kg for TPA and carrageenan test, respectively. Primary fractions generated moderate local and systemic anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion The ethanolic extract from the aerial parts of M. deppeana did not cause any lethality or adverse effect in either of the acute and sub-acute toxicity tests. This exhibited an important local and systemic anti-inflammatory activity and also moderate antioxidant capacity. Moreover, the primary fraction F2 was more active for the TPA model while the primary fraction F3 was most active in the carrageenan model in vivo. The main compound isolated from F3 was verbascoside; on the other hand also ursolic and oleanolic acids were isolated from F1 and F2.