Sesquiterpene lactones with antinociceptive and antipyretic activity from two Centaurea species

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Several Centaurea species are used to alleviate pain and inflammatory symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis, high fever, and head ache in Turkish folk medicine.

Aim of the study

The effectiveness of extracts, fractions and subfractions from dried Centaurea solstitialis L. subsp. solstitialis (CSS) (Asteraceae) roots and aerial parts were studied on mice.

Materials and methods

The antinociceptive and antipyretic effects of Centaurea solstitialis L. subsp. solstitialis have been investigated by using p-benzoquinone-induced writhing reflex for antinociceptive activity and Freund's Complete Adjuvant-induced pyrexia model for antipyretic activity assessment in mice.

Results

The ethanolic extract from the aerial parts of the plant was shown to possess significant antinociceptive (p < 0.01) and antipyretic activities (p < 0.01). The extract was then submitted to subsequent solvent extractions and chromatographic processes. Through bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation procedures two sesquiterpene lactones, solstitialin A and acetyl solstitialin, were isolated and defined as the active components of CSS. On the other hand, a comparative study was conducted on another species, Centaurea depressa Bieb., which has no similar folkloric utilization. Following the same fractionation chart same compounds were defined as the active ingredients.

Conclusion

Results of the present study proved that aerial part of CSS possesses antinociceptive and antipyretic activities supporting the folkloric assertion in Turkish folk medicine. However, these effects seem not limited to CSS, some other Centaurea species, in fact, having no folkloric use might be equally active.