MALÍK, J., TAUCHEN, J., LANDA, Přemysl, KUTIL, Zsófia, MARŠÍK, Petr, KLOUCEK, P., HAVLÍK, J., KOKOŠKA, L. In vitro antiinflammatory and antioxidant potential of root extracts from Ranunculaceae species. South African Journal of Botany. 2017, 109(MAR), 128-137. ISSN 0254-6299. E-ISSN 1727-9321

Among the ethanol extracts of roots of 25 Ranunculaceous plant species traditionally used in treatment of various inflammatory diseases, Helleborus purpurascens demonstrated the most promising inhibitory activity towards COX-1, COX-2 and 5-LOX enzymes (IC 50 detected as 5.64, 10.33 and 3.84 μg/mL, respectively). GC–MS analysis of subfractions obtained from H. purpurascens extract revealed that a complex of fatty acids (especially α-linolenic acid) might be responsible for the observed antiinflammatory activity. The extract of Thalictrum minus was found to be selectively inhibiting COX-2 and 5-LOX enzymes (IC 50  = 49.68 and 76.47 μg/mL, respectively) but had no inhibitory effect on COX-1 (IC 50   >  128 μg/mL). Moreover, T. minus extract also showed significant antioxidant effect (DPPH = 0.074 g TE/g, and ORAC = 0.518 g TE/g) as well as was relatively rich on phenolic compounds (TPC = 0.352 g GAE/g). Statistical analysis showed that phenolic compounds might be only partially responsible for antioxidant potential demonstrated by this plant. The results of our study suggest that the above-mentioned members of Ranunculaceae family may possibly serve as a prospective material for further development of novel and safer plant-based antiinflammatory and/or antioxidant agents.