Alteration of Neutrophil Reactive Oxygen Species Production by Extracts of Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum)

Abstract

Harpagophytum,Devil’sClaw, is a genus of tuberiferous xerophytic plants native to southernAfrica. Some of the taxa are appreciated for their medicinal effects and have been traditionally used to relieve symptoms of inflammation.The objectives of this pilot study were to investigate the antioxidant capacity and the content of total phenols, verbascoside, isoverbascoside, and selected iridoids, as well as to investigate the capacity of various Harpagophytum taxa in suppressing respiratory burst in terms of reactive oxygen species produced by human neutrophils challenged with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), opsonised Staphylococcus aureus, and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Harpagophytum plants were classified into different taxa according to morphology, and DNA analysis was used to confirmthe classification. A putative new variety of H. procumbens showed the highest degree of antioxidative capacity. Using PMA, three Harpagophytum taxa showed anti-inflammatory effects with regard to the PBS control. A putative hybrid between H. procumbens and H. zeyheri in contrast showed proinflammatory effect on the response of neutrophils to F. nucleatum in comparison with treatment with vehicle control. Harpagophytum taxa were biochemically very variable and the response in suppressing respiratory burst differed. Further studies with larger number of subjects are needed to corroborate anti-inflammatory effects of different taxa of Harpagophytum.

Keywords

Harpagophytum; inflammation; antioxidant; plant medicine; reactive oxygen species

Published in

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
2016, article number: 3841803

SLU Authors

• Muzila, Mbaki

  • Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Rumpunen, Kimmo

  • Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Sehic, Jasna

  • Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Ekholm, Anders

  • Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Widen, Cecilia

  • Kristianstad University

• Nybom, Hilde

  • Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Other Health Sciences
Botany
Organic Chemistry

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/3841803

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/76802