Thesis
Analysis of the phytochemical composition and anti-inflammatory properties of Lovage
- Creator
- Rights statement
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 2011
- Thesis identifier
- T13100
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- The common herb Lovage (Levisticum officinalis Koch) is reputed to have a variety of beneficial activities; recent studies conducted at the University of Strathclyde have indicated that Lovage possesses potential anti-inflammatory as well as other properties including anti-microbial activity. The compound(s) responsible for these activities had not been confirmed and the purpose of this project was to replicate previous results and try to further elucidate some of the compounds responsible. Hexane, chloroform, methanol and methanol/water (1:1) crude extracts were prepared from the Lovage leaves and tested using an AlamarblueTM cytotoxic assay (with a top concentration of plant extract at 1mg/ml, serial diluted 1:2 down to 0.0005mg/ml). The most cytotoxic extract was chloroform followed by hexane; both methanol and methanol/water were found to be non-cytotoxic. The anti-inflammatory properties of the crude extracts were tested in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation assay of THP-1 (human monocytic) cells. An enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) was used to quantify whether the extracts were able to reduce the levels of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α, produced by LPS stimulated THP-1 cells. All extracts caused significant reduction of the inflammatory response: hexane p≤0.0001, chloroform p≤0.0001, methanol p≤0.0001 and methanol/water (1:1) p≤0.0001. Two extracts were progressed for further analysis, starting with hexane and then chloroform. Flash chromatography was used to fractionate the crude extracts into individual constituents in an attempt to isolate the purified active compound(s), which were then analysed using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). A fraction containing a compound which consisted of a sugar group with a glycoside link to a saturated fatty acid chain was found to significantly (p≤0.0001) reduce the levels of TNF-α. Further fractions were also found to significantly reduce the levels of TNF-α, however, these require further work to separate the complex mixtures of compounds to isolate the major constituents and identify the active compound(s). Therefore, Levisticum officinalis Koch, contains multiple anti-inflammatory compounds, which have the potential to be exploited for therapeutic use.
- Resource Type
- DOI
- Date Created
- 2011
- Former identifier
- 943830
- Embargo Note