Standardization of solvent extracts from Onopordum acanthium fruits by GC-MS, HPLC-UV/DAD, HPLC-TQMS and 1H-NMR and evaluation of their inhibitory effects on the expression of IL-8 and E-selectin in immortalized endothelial cells (HUVECtert).

In this work we have characterized and standardized the solvent extracts of the fruits of Onopordum acanthium, a plant widely distributed from Europe to Asia and used in different traditional medicines. Fruits were extracted with methanol (ME) and n-hexane (HE) and the extract compositions determined by GC-MS, HPLC-UV/DAD, HPLC-TQMS and H-1 NMR spectroscopy. Anti-inflammatory activity (IL-8 and E-selectin, qPCR and ELISA) was investigated in HUVECtert cells stimulated with TNF-alpha. and LPS. Arctiin and isochlorogenic acid were found in ME (87 +/- 2%, w/w, and 10.2 +/- 0.2%, w/w; 38.0 +/- 3.2 mg/g(FRUITS) and 3.5 +/- 0.4 mg/g(FRUITS)) and (ii) paraffins in the HE (195.6 +/- 5.6 mg/g). A dose dependent (from 15 to 40 mu g(ME)/mL corresponding to 20-75 mu M arctiin) inhibition of E-selectin and of the induction of IL-8 was induced by LPS. The results of this study support the use of O. acanthium fruits in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent and for cancer prevention and treatment.