Greater Plantain (Plantago major) and Arthritis / joint pain: evidence and sources

Context The leaves of Plantago major have been used for the treatment of wounds and inflammation in folk medicine from prehistoric times. However there is no report on the use of P. major to treat inflammation in oral epithelial cell lines. Objective The present study was undertaken to reveal possible anti-inflammatory effects of Plantago major leaf extracts on oral epithelial cells in-vitro. Materials and methods Water- and ethanol-based extracts of P. major leaves were prepared from freeze-dried plant material, and tested in-vitro using the oral epithelial cell line H400. The anti-inflammatory activity of P. major was tested against E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) using the nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kB) assay. Results Both the water- and the ethanol-based extracts, as well as a combination of the two extracts, showed anti-inflammatory activity. A concentration of 0.1 mg/mL (on dry weight basis) yielded the best results for all extracts. Discussion and conclusion The results show that synergistic effects of both polyphenols and water-soluble compounds (possibly polysaccharides) are responsible for anti-inflammatory activities of P. major .

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of Plantago major L. (PM). Materials and methods Anti-inflammatory activity: Control and reference groups were administered isotonic saline solution (ISS) and indomethacin, respectively. Plantago major groups were injected PM in doses of 5 mg/kg (PM-I), 10 mg/kg (PM-II), 20 mg/kg (PM-III) and 25 mg/kg (PM-IV). Before and three hours after the injections, the volume of right hind-paw of rats was measured using a plethysmometer. HEPATOPROTECTIVE ACTIVITY: The hepatotoxicity was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration. Control, CCl4 and reference groups received isotonic saline solution, CCl4 and silibinin, respectively. Plantago major groups received CCl4 (0.8 ml/kg) and PM in doses of 10, 20 and 25 mg/kg, respectively for seven days. Blood samples and liver were collected on the 8th day after the animals were killed. Results Plantago major had an anti-inflammatory effect matching to that of control group at doses of 20 and 25 mg/kg. It was found that reduction in the inflammation was 90.01% with indomethacin, 3.10% with PM-I, 41.56% with PM-II, 45.87% with PM-III and 49.76% with PM-IV. Median effective dose (ED50) value of PM was found to be 7.507 mg/kg. Plantago major (25 mg/kg) significantly reduced the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels when compared to the CCl4 group. The histopathological findings showed a significant difference between the PM (25 mg/kg) and CCl4 groups. Conclusion The results showed that PM had a considerable anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities.

A hexane extract of Plantago major was investigated by bioactivity-directed fractionation, using an in vitro cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) catalyzed prostaglandin biosynthesis inhibition assay, and resulted in the isolation of ursolic acid (1). This triterpenoid showed a significant COX-2 inhibitory effect, directly on the enzyme activity, with an IC50 value of 130 microM and a COX-2/COX-1 selectivity ratio of 0.6. The structural isomer oleanolic acid (2) was found to be less active than 1, with an IC50 value of 295 microM, but showed a similar selectivity ratio (0.8). Furthermore, no significant inhibition on COX-2 or COX-1 was observed by the triterpenoid, 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid (3). The direct inhibitory effect of 1 and 2 on COX-2 catalyzed prostaglandin biosynthesis increased with preincubation, indicating a time-dependent inhibition, while the effect on COX-1 was found to be independent of preincubation time.

This study aimed to validate the pharmacological effects of Plantago major L., a medicinal plant used to decrease pain and inflammation. The aqueous extract (AE) was prepared from the dried ground leaves. Pretreatment with AE (1 g/kg, p.o.) decreased writhing induced by acetic acid in mice, but it did not change the tail flick responses to heat nociceptive stimuli. In rats, AE (1 g/kg, p.o.) reduced the paw edema and pleurisy induced by carrageenin, but it did not alter the paw edema induced by dextran. The effect of AE on the carrageenin inflammatory responses was more intense than that obtained on the ear edema induced by croton oil in mice. In addition, daily treatment with AE (1 g/kg/day during 8 days, p.o.) inhibited the exudative process induced by croton oil injected into the air pouch of rats. The results indicate that the aqueous extract of Plantago major is endowed with effective antiinflammatory and analgesic activities.

The large plantain has been widely used since ancient times to treat many diseases, including constipation, cough and ulcers. The purpose of this study is to review the traditional use, botanical characteristics, pharmacological activity, phytochemical effects and toxicity of Plantago major. Some o f its traditional properties, including wound healing, antipyretic, antitussive, anti-infective, anti-hemorrhagic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, laxative, astringent and hemostatic, have been confirmed by recent studies. Phytochemical studies have shown that Plantago major contains volatile compounds, triterpenoids, phenolic acids and flavonoids. Current pharmacological studies have proven some of the traditional uses of Plantago major. However, additional studies of this plant are needed, since it can be used for the production of various natural preparations.The healing properties of the great plantain have been recognized all over the world for hundreds of years. This plant contains a number of effective chemical components, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, phenolic acid derivatives, iridoid glycosides, fatty acids, polysaccharides and vitamins, which contribute to its specific therapeutic effect. Accordingly, studies have shown that the large plantain is effective as a wound healing agent, as well as as an anti-cancer, antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antibacterial and antiviral agent. It also fights fatigue and cancer, is an antioxidant and neutralizes free radicals.