Planta Med 2010; 76(14): 1492-1496
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1249780
Pharmacology
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Anti-inflammatory Activity of Myricetin Isolated from Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc. Leaves

Shu-Jun Wang1 , Yan Tong2 , Shuang Lu3 , Rui Yang1 , Xu Liao1 , Ying-Feng Xu4 , Xun Li5
  • 1Department of Pharmaceutics, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
  • 2Department of Pharmacology, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, PR China
  • 3The Chief Contract Services Center, State Food and Drug Administration, Beijing, PR China
  • 4The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, PR China
  • 5Shenyang Gelin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Shenyang, PR China
Further Information

Publication History

received May 12, 2009 revised February 27, 2010

accepted March 5, 2010

Publication Date:
09 April 2010 (online)

Abstract

Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc. leaves are commonly used in folk medicine to treat inflammatory disorders in China. Present studies on the anti-inflammatory effect of myricetin from Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc. leaves was evaluated with various in vivo models of both acute and chronic inflammations such as xylene-induced ear edema, acetic acid-induced vascular permeability, carrageenan-induced paw edema, leukocyte migration assay, and cotton pellet granuloma models. Myricetin showed a significant inhibition on ear edema and hind paw edema caused by xylene and carrageenan, respectively. Furthermore, it also inhibited the increase in capillary permeability induced by the production of acetic acid in the human body. Myricetin significantly decreased the serum levels of MDA and, in turn, increased the serum levels of SOD in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model. Concurrently, myricetin also significantly decreased leukocyte count. During chronic inflammation, myricetin inhibited the formation of granuloma tissue. These results, collectively, demonstrate that myricetin possesses a potent anti-inflammatory function on acute and chronic inflammation. Its anti-inflammatory mechanisms are probably associated with the inhibition of antioxidant activity. These results also support the claims of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners about the use of Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc. leaves in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

References

  • 1 Chen K S, Xu C J, Zhang B. Red bayberry: botany and horticulture.  Horticult Rev. 2004;  30 83-114
  • 2 Matsuda H, Morikawa T, Tao J, Ueda K, Yoshikawa M. Bioactive constituents of Chinese natural medicines. VII. Inhibitors of degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells and absolute stereostructures of three new diarylheptanoid glycosides from the bark of Myrica rubra.  Chem Pharma Bull. 2002;  50 208-215
  • 3 Nonaka G I, Muta M, Nishioka I. Myricatin, a galloyl flavanonol sulfate and prodelphinidin gallates from Myrica rubra.  Phytochemistry. 1983;  22 237-241
  • 4 Sakurai N, Yoshikatsu Y, Inoue T. Triterpenoids from Myrica rubra.  Phytochemistry. 1986;  26 217-219
  • 5 Sakurai N, Yaguchi Y, Hirakawa T, Nagai M, Inoue T. Two myricanol glycosides from Myrica rubra and revision of the structure of isomyricanone.  Phytochemistry. 1991;  30 3077-3079
  • 6 Zou Y H. Study on the antioxidant ingredients of edible oils in the fruit kernel of Myrica.  Chem Indian Forest Prod. 1995;  15 13-17
  • 7 Zou Y H, Li G R. Analysis of flavonoid as antioxidant in Myrica rubra leaf with reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography.  Chin J Anal Chem. 1998;  26 531-534
  • 8 Tang L, Zhang L J, Wang M Q. Research of the active ingredient myricetin in Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.  Chin Tradit Pat Med. 2006;  28 121-122
  • 9 Yang S F, Wu Q, Sun A S, Huang X N, Shi J S. Protective effect and mechanism of Ginkgo biloba leaves extracts for Parkinson disease induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine.  Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2001;  22 1089-1093
  • 10 Subramanian S S, Nair A G R. Myricetin and myricetin-3-O-L-rhamnoside from the leaves of Madhuca indica and Achras sapota.  Phytochemistry. 1972;  11 3090-3091
  • 11 Gordon M H, Roedig-Penman A. Antioxidant activity of quercetin and myricetin in liposomes.  Chem Phys Lipids. 1998;  97 79-85
  • 12 Pedernera A M, Guardia T, Calderón C G, Rotelli A E, de la Rocha N E, Genaro S D, Pelzer L E. Anti-ulcerogenic and anti-inflammatory activity of the methanolic extract of Larrea divaricata Cav. in rat.  J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;  105 415-420
  • 13 Atta A H, Alkohafi A. Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of some Jordanian medicinal plants extracts.  J Ethnopharmacol. 1998;  60 117-124
  • 14 Whittle B A. The use of changes in capillary permeability in mice to distinguish between narcotic and non-narcotic analgesics.  Br J Pharmacol Chemother. 1964;  22 246-253
  • 15 Carvalho J C T, Sertié J A A, Barbosa M V J, Patrício K C M, Caputo L R G, Sarti S J, Ferreira L P, Bastos J K. Anti-inflammatory activity of the crude extract from the fruits of Pterodon emarginatus Vog.  J Ethnopharmacol. 1999;  64 127-133
  • 16 Ray S D, Fariss M W. Role of cellular energy status in tocopheryl hemisuccinate cytoprotection against ethyl methanesulfonate-induced toxicity.  Arch Biochem Biophys. 1994;  311 180-190
  • 17 Beyer W F, Fridovich I. Phosphate, not superoxide dismutase, facilitates electron transfer from ferrous salts to cytochrome c.  Arch Biochem Biophys. 1991;  285 60-63
  • 18 He Q J, Wang L M, Lou Y J. Anti-inflammatory effects of humei buccal tablet on acute inflammation.  Chin Tradit Pat Med. 1998;  20 34-35
  • 19 Bekhit A A, Fahmy H T Y, Rostom S A F, Baraka A M. Design and synthesis of some substituted 1H-pyrazolyl-thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidines as anti-inflammatory–antimicrobial agents.  Eur J Med Chem. 2003;  38 27-36
  • 20 Vane J R, Bolting R N. New insights into the mode of action of anti-inflammatory drugs.  Inflamm Res. 1995;  44 1-10
  • 21 Nantel F, Denis D, Gordon R, Northey A, Cirino M, Metters K M, Chan C C. Distribution and regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 in carrageenan-induced inflammation.  Br J Pharmacol. 1999;  128 853-859
  • 22 Gamache D A, Povlishock J T, Ellis E F. Carrageenan-induced brain inflammation. Characterization of the model.  J Neurosurg. 1986;  65 679-685
  • 23 Robak J, Gryglewski R J. Flavonoids are scavengers of superoxide anions.  Biochem Pharmacol. 1988;  37 837-841
  • 24 Ratty A K, Das N P. Effects of flavonoids on nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation: structure-activity relationship.  Biochem Med Metab Biol. 1988;  39 69-79
  • 25 Smith C, Halliwell B, Aruoma O I. Protection by albumin against the pro-oxidant actions of phenolic dietary components.  Food Chem Toxicol. 1992;  30 483-489
  • 26 Malech H L, Gallin J I. Neutrophils in human diseases.  N England J Med. 1987;  317 687-694
  • 27 Spector W G. The granulomatous inflammatory exudate.  Int Rev Exp Pathol. 1969;  8 1-55

Shu-Jun Wang

Department of Pharmaceutics
Shenyang Pharmaceutical University

No. 103, Wenhua Road

Shenyang 110016

PR China

Phone: + 86 24 23 98 63 60

Fax: + 86 24 23 98 63 60

Email: xiaohu6408_cn@sina.com