Free radical scavenging, α-glucosidase inhibitory and anti-inflammatory constituents from Indian sedges, Cyperus scariosus R.Br and Cyperus rotundus L.

BACKGROUND: Cyperus scariosus R. Br and Cyperus rotundus L are widely used in ayurvedic preparation for the treatment of diabetes and other diseases. The early literature, so far, does not indicate the presence of any bioactive principle isolated from these plants.

OBJECTIVE: To identify free radical scavenging, anti-diabetic and anti- inflammatory principles from these two species.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The bioassay guided fractionation and isolation of active constituents was done by chromatographic techniques. They also evaluated their anti-oxidant activity by DPPH and ABTS. The anti-diabetic activity was screened by α- glucosidase and α- amylase assays. Also, the further evaluation of in vitro anti-inflammatory activity using THP-1 monocytic cells and in vivo anti- inflammatory activity, was confirmed by carrageenan induced rat paw edema as model.

RESULTS: The activity guided isolation led to isolation of twelve compounds Which are: Stigmasterol([1]), β- sitosterol([2]), Lupeol([3]), Gallic acid([4]), Quercetin([5]), β- amyrin([6]), Oleanolic acid([7]), β- amyrin acetate([8]), 4- hydroxyl butyl cinnamate([9]), 4- hydroxyl cinnamic acid([10]), Caffeic acid,([11]) and Kaempferol([12]) respectively. Among the isolates, the compounds 4 and 5 displayed potent radical scavenging activity with an IC50 values of 0.43 and 0.067 ΅g/ml. The compounds 4, 5 and 10 showed significant anti-diabetic activities. while lupeol([3]) showed potent IL-1 β activity inhibition in THP-1 monocytic cells and also displayed significant (p<0.0025) in vivo anti-inflammatory activity.

CONCLUSION: Inbrief, we isolated twelve compounds from both the species. Collectively, our results suggested that aromatic compounds showed good anti-oxidant and anti-diabetic activities.

SUMMARY: The study investigates the free radical scavenging, α-glucosidase inhibitory and anti-inflammatory effects of constituents isolated from Indian sedges viz. C. scariosus and C. rotundus. The results indicated that phenolic compounds displayed potent fee radical scavenging activty and alpha-glucosidase inhibition activity. While terpene constituent, Lupeol[3] showed good IL-1(β) activity inhibition in THP-1 monocytic cells and also displayed significant (p<0.0025) in vivo anti inflammatory activity in carrageenan induced rat paw edema. However, further studies are required to know the exact molecular mechanism. Abbreviations used: DPPH: 2,2- Diphenyl-1-1-picryl hydrazyl, ABTS: 2,2-Azinobis-3-ethylbenzo thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, THP-1: Human leukaemia monocytic cell line, IL-1β: Interleukin-1β, IC50-Inhibitory concentration 50%.