Journal of Ethnopharmacology 113 (2007) 346–353
Anti-inflammatory evaluation of Solidago chilensis
Meyen in a murine model of pleurisy
Stella Goulart
a
, Maria Izabel Goularte Moritz
b
, Karen Luise Lang
b
,
Rafael Liz
a
, Eloir Paulo Schenkel
b
, Tˆ ania Silvia Fr ¨ ode
a,∗
a
Department of Clinical Analysis, Centre of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina,
Campus Universit´ ario-Trindade, 88040-970 Florian´ opolis, SC, Brazil
b
Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Centre of Health Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina,
Campus Universit´ ario-Trindade, 88040-970 Florian´ opolis, SC, Brazil
Received 25 June 2007; accepted 1 July 2007
Available online 7 July 2007
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and the mechanism of action of the aqueous extracts obtained from rhizomes,
leaves and inflorescences of Solidago chilensis in the mouse model of pleurisy. The extracts were prepared by infusion and were lyophilized.
Results: The aqueous extracts of rhizomes, leaves or inflorescences inhibited leukocytes, neutrophils and exudation (P < 0.05) in the inflammation
induced by carrageenan. The rhizomes aqueous extract, butanolic and aqueous residual fractions inhibited leukocytes, neutrophils, myeloperoxidase,
adenosine-deaminase, and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels in the inflammation induced by carrageenan (P < 0.05). The rhizome aqueous extract
and butanolic fraction also inhibited exudation, nitric oxide, and interleukin-1 beta levels (P < 0.05). The rhizomes aqueous extract and its two
derived fractions reduced leukocytes and mononuclears in the pleurisy induced by bradykinin, histamine, or substance P (P < 0.05) and neutrophils in
the pleurisy induced by histamine or substance P (P < 0.05). Only aqueous residual fraction inhibited neutrophils induced by bradykinin (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Solidago chilensis aqueous extracts from leaves, inflorescences and rhizomes demonstrated an important anti-inflammatory effect,
inhibiting cells in the inflammation caused by carrageenan. In addition, the rhizomes aqueous extract and its derived fractions also decreased
pro-inflammatory mediators release into the site of the inflammatory process. The rhizomes aqueous extract and the butanolic fraction showed
more evident anti-inflammatory actions.
© 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Solidago chilensis Meyen; Pleurisy; Mediators of inflammation; Anti-inflammatory activity
1. Introduction
Plants belonging to the genus Solidago have a widespread
and traditional usage as medicinal plants in many continents,
e.g. Solidago virgaurea in Asian and Europe, Solidago canaden-
sis L., Solidago odora Ait and Solidago gigantea L. in North
Abbreviations: ADA, adenosine-deaminase; AE, aqueous extract of Sol-
idago chilensis Meyen; AR, aqueous residual fraction of Solidago chilensis
Meyen; BK, bradykinin; BuOH, butanolic fraction of Solidago chilensis Meyen;
C, control; Cg, carrageenan; HIS, histamine; IL-1, interleukin-1 beta; i.p.,
intraperitoneal; i.pl., intrapleural; i.v., intravenous; Indo, indomethacin; MPO,
myeloperoxidase; NO
x
, nitrate/nitrite; SP, substance P; TNF, tumor necrosis
factor alpha
∗
Corresponding author. Tel.: +55 48 99614846; fax: +55 48 32440936.
E-mail addresses: saleh@ccs.ufsc.br, taniafrode@zipmail.com.br
(T.S. Fr¨ ode).
America, all of them receiving the common name “golden-
rod”. In South America the most abundant species is the
Solidago chilensis (Asteraceae), also widely used in the popu-
lar medicine of the different countries (Cabrera, 1974). Popular
names in Brazil include erva-lanceta, but it can also be referred
to as “arnica”, “arnica-brasileira”, “arnica-do-campo”, “arnica-
silvestre”, a denomination derived from its usage as a substitute
for Arnica Montana in the treatment of superficial inflammation
of skin (Mors et al., 2000). Mentioned in the popular medicine
are use as a diuretic, to treat burns, reumatic and inflamma-
tory disease, among others (Mors et al., 2000; Lorenzi and
Matos, 2002). In Brazil it was also used in the manufacture
of Phytomedicines with the same indications, and therefore it
was included in the first edition of the Brazilian Pharmacopoea
(1926). According to the Brazilian Agency for the registration of
Medicinal Product (ANVISA, 2000) there are nowadays some
0378-8741/$ – see front matter © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jep.2007.07.003