Antioxidant properties of some hydroalcoholic plant extracts with antiinflammatory activity.

The hydroalcoholic extracts of Calendula officinalis, Hypericum perforatum, Plantago lanceolata and Glycyrrhiza glabra which exhibited different anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated for the possible mode of action by studying their antioxidant potential. In the present study we investigated if standardized hydroalcoholic extracts of plants such as Calendula officinalis, Hypericum perforatum, Plantago lanceolata and Glycyrrhiza glabra produced by Hofigal Stock Company could modulate the respiratory burst of human activated neutrophils, as a consequence of their antioxidant capacity. Their antioxidant properties were measured using a colorimetric assay (Total Antioxidant Status kit).

Hydroalcoholic plant extracts with anti-inflammatory activity.

The aim of the present study was to investigate if standardized hydroalcoholic plant extracts such as Calendula officinalis, Hypericum perforatum, Plantago lanceolata and Glycyrrhiza glabra can suppress in cell-free systems the activities of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), key enzymes in the formation of proinflammatory eicosanoids from arachidonic acid (AA). Studies were undertaken to compare the above mentioned plant extracts to a known NSAID (nimesulide) in their ability to inhibit both cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and lipoxygenase (5-LO) activities in cell-free systems. We report on 2 vegetal extracts (Hypericum perforatum and Glycyrrhiza glabra) that inhibit 5-LO activity and 2 vegetal extracts (Plantago lanceolata and Glycyrrhiza glabra) that inhibit COX-2 activity.