Anti-inflammatory activity of coumarins isolated from <i>Tagetes lucida</i> Cav.

Abstract

The anti-inflammatory activity of hexane (TlH) and acetone (TlAc) extracts from the aerial parts of <i>Tagetes lucida</i> were evaluated in a mice model of 12-Ο-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-Acetate (TPA)-induced auricular oedema. Also, five coumarin compounds from the TlH extract were identified, characterized and evaluated: 7-isoprenyloxycoumarin (<b>1</b>), herniarin (<b>2</b>), 6-methoxy-7-isoprenyloxycoumarin (<b>3</b>), 6,7,8-trimethoxycoumarin (<b>4</b>) and scoparone (<b>5</b>). Compounds <b>1</b> and <b>3</b> had not been previously identified in <i>T. lucida</i>. Compound <b>1</b> showed the highest activity with an 81.1% of oedema inhibition, while <b>2</b> reduced it in 54.4%, the other compounds showed less than 50% of inhibitory activity. The chemical structure of the compounds reveal that the substituent at the C-7 position is a crucial factor in exerting the anti-inflammatory activity.