Studies on the anti-inflammatory activity of phytopharmaceuticals prepared from Arnica flowers

Phytopharmaceuticals prepared from flowerheads of Arnica montana of Spanish origin and of the new type "Arbo", which can be easily and economically cultivated, were studied for their capability to impair activation of the transcription factors NF-kappaB and NF-AT. Both proteins are responsible for the transcription of genes encoding various inflammatory mediators. Additionally, their influence on the release of the cytokines IL-1 and TNF-alpha were examined. The inhibitory activities correlate with their quantitative and qualitative content of sesquiterpene lactones (SIs). Moreover, it was shown that the inhibitory potency of 11alpha,13-dihydrohelenalin derivatives being the main SIs in the Spanish flowers depend on their esterfication. Compounds with unsaturated acyl moieties, such as methacrylate and tiglinate, exhibited a stronger activity in the NF-kappaB EMSA as well as in the croton oil ear test in mice than the acetate derivative.