Topical antiinflammatory activity of phytosterols isolated from Eryngium foetidum on chronic and acute inflammation models

Eryngium foetidum L. (Apiaceae) is a Caribbean endemic plant, used in folk medicine for the treatment of several antiinflammatory disorders. A prelimi nary phytochemical study showed that the hexane extract is rich in terpenic compounds. Chromatographic fractionation of this extract yielded: alpha-ch olesterol, brassicasterol, campesterol, stigmasterol (as the main component , 95%) clerosterol, beta-sitosterol, Delta(5)-avenasterol, Delta(5)24-stigm astadienol and Delta(7)-avenasterol. The topical antiinflammatory activity of the hexane extract and of stigmasterol was evaluated by auricular oedema , induced by 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA), in the mouse, using s ingle and multiple applications of the phlogistic agent. Both reduced the o edema in a similar proportion in the two model assays (acute and chronic). Meloperoxidase activity was strongly reduced by both the extract and the co mpound, in the acute but not the chronic model. These results indicate that the leaves of Eryngium foetidum L may be effect ive against topical inflammation processes. Stigmasterol also exerts a sign ificant topical antiinflammatory activity although it cannot be considered to be a major antiinflammatory agent, therefore other bioactive components are probably involved in the activity of the hexane extract, (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.