Anti-inflammatory Activity of Grains of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta Schum) Extract

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 2014-10, Vol.62 (43), p.10452-10457
• Main Authors: Ilic, Nebojsa M, Dey, Moul, Poulev, Alexander A, Logendra, Sithes, Kuhn, Peter E, Raskin, Ilya
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aframomum melegueta; Animals; anti-inflammatory activity; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - analysis; aspirin; Catechols - administration & dosage; Catechols - analysis; Cyclooxygenase 2 - genetics; Cyclooxygenase 2 - immunology; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors - analysis; edema; Edema - drug therapy; Edema - genetics; Edema - immunology; enzyme activity; Fatty Alcohols - administration & dosage; Fatty Alcohols - analysis; fractionation; gene expression; genes; grains; Humans; inflammation; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - immunology; Male; Mice; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - analysis; prostaglandin synthase; Rats; Rats, Inbred LEC; Zingiberaceae - chemistry
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf5026086

The ethanolic extract of grains of paradise (Aframomum melegueta Schum, Zingiberaceae) has been evaluated for inhibitory activity on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme, in vivo for the anti-inflammatory activity and expression of several pro-inflammatory genes. Bioactivity-guided fractionation showed that the most active COX-2 inhibitory compound in the extract was [6]-paradol. [6]-Shogaol, another compound from the extract, was the most active inhibitory compound in pro-inflammatory gene expression assays. In a rat paw edema model, the whole extract reduced inflammation by 49% at 1000 mg/kg. Major gingerols from the extract [6]-paradol, [6]-gingerol, and [6]-shogaol reduced inflammation by 20, 25 and 38%. respectively when administered individually at a dose of 150 mg/kg. [6]-Shogaol efficacy was at the level of aspirin, used as a positive control. Grains of paradise extract has demonstrated an anti-inflammatory activity, which is in part due to the inhibition of COX-2 enzyme activity and expression of pro-inflammatory genes.