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Isolation and characterisation of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds from Gnaphalium polycaulon
L Apaza Ticona1, M J Puerto Madorrán2, B Hervás Povo2
1Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain; Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy and Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Plza. Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
Ethno-Pharmacological Relevance:
Gnaphalium polycaulon commonly known as "cudweed" has been used throughout South America as an infusion to treat colds, bronchitis, fever or pneumonia.
Aim Of The Study:
This study aimed to determine the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of the aqueous extract of Gnaphalium polycaulon and identify the related compounds.
Materials And Methods:
A bio-guided isolation of the active compounds of Gnaphalium polycaulon was carried out, selecting the fractions depending on their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities. The antibacterial effect was studied against Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae; and the anti-inflammatory study was performed by measuring the inhibition of NF-κB in BEAS-2B and IMR-90 cell cultures.
Results:
Three compounds were obtained and characterised by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. These compounds are 2-(4-(1-H-tetrazol-1-yl) phenyl)-2-aminopropanoic acid (1), N-phenyl-4-(3-phenyl-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl) piperazine-1-carboxamide (2) and N-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-4-(2-methylimidazo-[1,2-α] pyridine-3-yl) thiazol-2-amine (3). All compounds showed antibacterial activity with MIC values of 44.80-44.85, 0.017-0.021 and 0.0077-0.0079 μM, respectively, in the Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae strains, while the positive control, Ofloxacin, had a MIC value of 27.64-27.67 μM. This was corroborated through a zone inhibition assay, where compound 3 (11.36-11.67 mm) was much more active than the positive control (Ofloxacin, 23.41-24.12 mm), while compounds 2 (26.47-27.64 mm) and 1 (28.39-29.76 mm) displayed similar antibacterial potential to the positive control. Finally, all the compounds presented NF-κB inhibitory activity, compounds 3 (IC50 = 0.0071-0.0073 μM) and 2 (IC50 = 0.016-0.019 μM) being the most promising. Compound 1 (IC50 = 44.24-44.26 μM) had less anti-inflammatory potential, being also the closest to the values displayed by the positive control (Celastrol, IC50 = 7.41 μM).
Conclusion:
In the present study, three compounds were isolated for the first time from the aqueous extract of Gnaphalium polycaulon. Their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory potential was tested and showcased.
