Journal of Ethnopharmacology 122 (2009) 210–215 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Ethnopharmacology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jethpharm Sesquiterpene lactones with antinociceptive and antipyretic activity from two Centaurea species Esra Küpeli Akkol a , Reyhan Arif a , Fatma Ergun a , Erdem Yesilada b,∗ a Gazi University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Besevler 06330, Ankara, Turkey b Yeditepe University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kayisdagi 34755, Istanbul, Turkey article info Article history: Received 23 September 2008 Received in revised form 18 December 2008 Accepted 18 January 2009 Available online 7 February 2009 Keywords: Antinociceptive Antipyretic Asteraceae Centaurea depressa Centaurea solstitialis subsp. solstitialis Sesquiterpene lactone abstract 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. solsti- tialis 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 antinoci- ceptive (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 proce- dures 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. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The genus Centaurea (Asteraceae) has a widespread distribution in Turkey. Among 179 species grown in Turkey, 109 are endemic (Wagenitz, 1975). Particularly the aerial parts with flowers or only flowers of some Centaurea species are used in Turkish folk medicine to alleviate a wide range of symptoms. For example, the flowers of Centaurea iberica Trev. ex Sprengel and Centaurea solstitialis L. ssp. solstitialis (CSS), and the aerial parts of Centaurea virgata Lam. are used against stomach ache and previously antiulcerogenic activity of CSS was evaluated thoroughly (Yesilada et al., 2004; Gürbüz and Yesilada, 2007). Amongst the biological effects exerted by Centau- rea species, it is noteworthy that several species were particularly recommended against inflammatory conditions such as abscesses (Centaurea iberica Trev. ex Sprengel), asthma (Centaurea iberica Trev. ex Sprengel), hemorrhoids (Centaurea drahifolia Sm.), wound heal- ing (Centaurea iberica Trev. ex Sprengel, Centaurea virgata Lam., ∗ Corresponding author. Fax: +90 216 5780068. E-mail address: yesilada@yeditepe.edu.tr (E. Yesilada). Centaurea pterocaula Trautv.), to reduce fever (Centaurea calcitrapa L., Centaurea iberica Trev. ex Sprengel, Centaurea jacea L., Centaurea solstitialis ssp. solstitialis), and headache (Centaurea solstitialis L. ssp. solstitialis)(Yesilada, 2002). A wide range of therapeutic effects have also been attributed to Centaurea species in traditional medicines worldwide including, endocrine diseases (diabetes), inflammatory disorders (rheumatic pain, antipyretic), gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, indiges- tions, and stomachic), urogenital ailments (diuretic, to induce menstruation), cardiovascular problems (hypotensive), parasitic and microbial infections (antibacterial, antimalarial), etc. (Kaij-A- Kamb et al., 1992; Farrag et al., 1993; Barrero et al., 1997; Orallo et al., 1998). In Chinese traditional medicine, Centaurea uniflora has been used against fever and for detoxification and ethyl acetate extract of this species inhibited membrane lipid peroxidation and showed anti-atherosclerotic effect (Wei et al., 1997). Aqueous extract of Cen- taurea chilensis has been used to reduce fever and rheumatic pain in folk medicine (Negrete et al., 1984, 1993; Sepulveda et al., 1994). Centaurea ornate is also used against rheumatic pain (Bastos et al., 1994; Vazquez et al., 1997) and Centaurea sinaica is used to reduce fever (Al-Easa et al., 1992). Tea prepared from the aerial parts of 0378-8741/$ – see front matter © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2009.01.019