Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity and identification of bioactive compounds from Vitex negundo L., Cardiospermum halicacabum L. and Tridax procumbens L

Several plant species find mention in traditional medicine focusing on relief from pain and inflammation. India, a country represented by rich culture, traditions, and natural biodiversity, offers a unique potential for the drug discovery researchers. In India we have two (Eastern Himalaya and Western Ghats) of the 18 worlds' hotspots of plant biodiversity and interestingly, India is 7^th among the 16 countries where 70% of the world's species occur collectively. India is rich in the flora with respect to endemic plant species, the distribution of which is determined as 5725 angiosperms (of 17,500), 10 gymnosperms (of 64), 193 pteridophytes (of 1022), 678 bryophytes (of 2584), 466 lichens (of 2450), 3500 fungi (of 23,000), and 1924 algae (of 2500) [1]. Out of the 17,500 flowering plant species, around 8000 are medicinal and a large number of these are mentioned in Ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine system) for treating inflammatory disorders [1].

For our studies medicinal plants which are reported in Ayurveda for treating inflammatory and related disorders have been selected. We are engaged in the characterization of natural COX-2/COX-1 inhibitors through bioassay-directed fractionation [2, 3] and in design and synthesis of natural product-derived analogues as potential COX-2 inhibitors e.g. curcumin and chalcone [4, 5]. As examples of our efforts to find COX inhibitors from Indian medicinal plants, the studies on anti-inflammatory activity of Vitex negundo L., Cardiospermum halicacabum L., and Tridax procumbens L. using COX-1 and COX-2 catalyzed prostaglandin biosynthesis in vitro assay and carrageenan-induced rat paw edema in vivo assay along with isolation of bioactive compounds, are described herein.

References: [1] Sanjappa, M. Plant diversity in India – status, conservation and challenges (P. Maheshwari Medal Award Lecture). XXVIII Conference of Indian Botanical Society, Oct. 24–26, 2005, B.S.I., Dehradun, India, p.5–6. [2] Selvam C., Jachak S. M. et al. (2004) Tetrahedron Lett. 45: 4311–4314. [3] Selvam C., Jachak S. M. (2004) Phytother Res. 18: 582–584. [4] Selvam C., Jachak S. M. et al. (2005) Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 15: 1793–1797. [5] Jachak S. M. (2006) Curr. Med. Chem. 13: 659–678.