Protective effect of a Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. flowers extract against skin inflammation: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and matrix metalloproteinases inhibitory activities.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taubert (Syn. Butea frondosa; family Fabaceae) is a common plant of the Indian continent (Das et al., 2011; Sharma and Deshwal, 2011). The brightly orange flowers of this plant are widely used in traditional medicine and more particularly for inflammatory disease.

Aim Of The Study: In vitro anti-inflammatory mechanism of a hydroethanolic extract of B. monosperma flowers (BME) and more specifically of an enriched fraction in butrin and isobutrin (BI) was studied using cell culture of Normal Human Keratinocyte, cells involved in the skin inflammatory.

Materials And Methods: Dried and crushed B. monosperma flowers were extracted with Ethanol/H2O (70/30 v/v). The butrin/isobutrin fraction was obtained by centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC). Experiments were conducted on UV-B treated normal human epidermis keratinocytes, cells involved in the skin inflammatory response. To evaluate extract anti-inflammatory activity, cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, prostaglandin E2 and metalloproteinases MMP-1, -2, -9 and -10 were measured in the cells supernatant.

Results: Our data clearly showed that hydroalcoholic B. monosperma flower extract was able to decrease the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 pro-inflammatory cytokines of -32, -33 and -18% respectively. Interestingly, Prostaglandin E2 production and the secretion of MMP-1, -2, -9 and -10 were also inhibited. Same results were observed in presence of enriched fraction in butrin and isobutrin and confirmed the participation of these molecules in the anti-inflammatory activity.

Conclusion: These results explain the anti-inflammatory activity of B. monosperma and confirm the interest to use it in traditional Indian medicine. Moreover, its metalloproteinases inhibitory activities coupled with its anti-inflammatory action also give anti-aging property to this plant.