Abstract
Eryngium
is the largest and arguably the most taxonomically complex genus in the family Apiaceae. The genus is represented by 317 taxa widespread throughout Central Asia, northern Africa, America, Central and Southeast Europe [1].
Eryngium campestre
(Field eryngo) is a rare perennial restricted to dry grassy areas near the coast. It is native to Spain, France, Germany and Greece and other scattered localities in Europe, and is also found in Africa and Asia [2]. It has been used in European herbal medicine as an infusion to treat whooping cough, kidney and urinary tract inflammations [3]. Phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of
Eryngium campestre
L. aerial parts led to isolation of eleven known flavonol glycosides. Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. The methanol extract of
E. campestre
and the isolated flavonols exhibited moderate to strong antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power assays.
Eryngium campestre
extract showed significant inhibition of the β-amyloid Aβ 42 (IC
50
= 155.75 ± 7.43 ng/ml) without significant reduction in total Aβ (Aβ 40 + Aβ 42) levels in human H4 cell line, using sensitive sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results showed no inhibition activity of the extract against COX-1 and COX-2 up to 400 ng/ml concentration.
References:
[1] Wörz A. On the distribution and relationships of the South-West Asian species of Eryngium L. (Apiaceae-Saniculoideae). Turk J Bot 2004; 28: 85 – 92.
[2] Clapham AR, Tutin TG. Flora of the British Isles. 1st ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1952.
[3] Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 2nd ed. New Jersey: Medical Economics Company 2000; 729 – 33.