THE HISTORY OF PHARMACOGNOSY IN PORTUGAL

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Ridolfia segetum (L.) Moris (Apiaceae) from Portugal: A source of safe antioxidant and anti-inflammatory essential oil

Publication . Cabral, C.; Poças Almeida, Juliana; Gonçalves, M.J.; Cavaleiro, C.; Cruz, M.T.; Salgueiro, L.

Ridolfia segetum (L.) Moris essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC and GC-MS. The antioxidant properties were evaluated through the TBARS assay, and the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was assessed through inhibition of NO production triggered by the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in mouse macrophages. Assessment of cell viability was made through a colorimetric assay using MTT on macrophages, keratinocytes, and hepatocytes. The main compounds are α-phellandrene (53.0-63.3%), terpinolene (11.9-8.6%), ß-phellandrene (5.5-6.0%), and dillapiol (1.9-8.0%). The oil demonstrated high antioxidant capacity in the concentrations tested (0.05-0.20. μL/mL) and significantly inhibited NO production without cytotoxicity in concentrations up to 1.25. μL/mL. The plants showed a high essential oil yield, which confers an industrial potential interest. Also, the high content of α-phellandrene (53.0-63.3%) makes it an important natural source of this compound. These results provide evidence of the therapeutic effects of this oil, and suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity in doses without cytotoxicity on mammalian cells, combined with its antioxidant potential and pleasant smell, could be of great value in the development of new phytopharmaceuticals.

2015-03Journal article

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