Trichilia silvatica extracts modulate the oxinflammatory response: an in vitro analysis

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Meliaceae family plants, like Trichilia silvatica (catiguá-branco), are rich in secondary metabolites.
• Trichilia silvatica is traditionally used in Brazil for inflammatory conditions and possesses known antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of Trichilia silvatica leaf and stem extracts in modulating ox-inflammation in macrophage cells.
• To elucidate the mechanisms of action of these extracts against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced inflammation.

Main Methods:

• Phytochemical analysis using TLC and HPLC.
• Antioxidant assays (DPPH, FRAP) and cell viability tests (MTT).
• Measurement of enzyme activities (CAT, SOD), nitric oxide (NO) production, and gene expression (NF-κB, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-10, HIF-1) via RT-qPCR.

Main Results:

• Extracts contained terpenes/steroids, coumarins, tannins, and phenolic acids (chlorogenic, caffeic).
• Leaf and stem extracts protected cells against H2O2-induced oxidative stress, increased catalase activity, and reduced nitric oxide production.
• Extracts demonstrated significant DPPH radical scavenging capacity (>75%), downregulated pro-inflammatory genes (NF-κB, TNF-α, COX-2), and upregulated anti-inflammatory IL-10 and HIF-1.

Conclusions:

• Trichilia silvatica extracts possess strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
• The extracts modulate inflammatory pathways by downregulating pro-inflammatory mediators and upregulating anti-inflammatory and hypoxia-response genes.
• These findings support the traditional use of T. silvatica for inflammatory diseases linked to oxidative stress.