An integrated approach on the enzymatic and antioxidant mechanisms of four commercially available essential oils ( and ) traditionally used topically for their anti-inflammatory effects.

Journal: Frontiers in pharmacology
Published Date:

Abstract

Despite the increasing number of essential oils being reported on their potential therapeutic effects, some remain relatively unknown on their biological properties. That is the case of the essential oils obtained from copaiba ( L.), wintergreen ( Wall.), everlasting ( (Roth) G.Don) and clove ( (L.) Merr. & L.M.Perry), commonly labelled as being useful on the amelioration of conditions with an inflammatory background. To further broaden the current knowledge on the four essential oils, commercially available samples were approached on their effects upon a series of mediators that are involved on the inflammatory and oxidative response, both through in vitro cell-free and cell-based assays (5-lipoxygenase activity, lipid peroxidation, free radical and nitric oxide radical scavenging properties or tyrosinase inhibition). The four oils proved to be active at some of the concentrations tested in most of the performed assays. Significant differences were found between the essential oils, proving to tbe the most active, followed by against 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) and linoleic acid peroxidation, proving their potential use as antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. In fact, the IC value of in the 5-LOX assay was 62.30 μg mL. Besides efficiently scavenged superoxide radicals generated by xanthine/xanthine oxidase, displaying an IC value of 135.26 μg mL. The essential oil obtained from exhibited a significant decrease in the nitric oxide levels on BV-2 cells, showing its potential as a cytoprotective agent against toxic damage. Copaiba oil ranked first as the most potent tyrosinase inhibitor, exhibiting an IC 98.22 μg mL. More studies are needed to describe the essential oils properties, but these results confirm the potential of these essential oils as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents.

Authors

  • Pilar Cebollada
    Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain.
  • Nelson G M Gomes
    REQUIMTE/LAQV, Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
  • Paula B Andrade
    REQUIMTE/LAQV, Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
  • Víctor López
    Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain.

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