Isolation of bioactive compounds that relate to the anti-platelet activity of Cymbopogon ambiguus

Grice ID, Rogers KL, Griffiths LR
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2010


ABSTRACT:

Infusions and decoctions of Cymbopogon ambiguus have been used traditionally in Australia for the treatment of headache, chest infections and muscle cramps. The aim of the present study was to screen and identify bioactive compounds from C. ambiguus that could explain this plant’s anti-headache activity. A dichloromethane extract of C. ambiguus was identified as having activity in adenosine-diphosphate-induced human platelet aggregation and serotonin-release inhibition bioassays. Subsequent fractionation of this extract led to the isolation of four phenylpropenoids, eugenol, elemicin, eugenol methylether and trans-isoelemicin. While both eugenol and elemicin exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of ADP-induced humanplatelet serotonin release, only eugenol displayed potent inhibitory activity with an IC(50) value of 46.6 microM, in comparison to aspirin, with an IC(50) value of 46.1 microM. These findings provide evidence to support the therapeutic efficacy of C. ambiguus in the non-conventional treatment of headache and inflammatory conditions.

CITATION:

Grice ID, Rogers KL, Griffiths LR. Isolation of bioactive compounds that relate to the anti-platelet activity of Cymbopogon ambiguus. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2010.


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