Vasorelaxant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Methylene Chloride Fraction of Foeniculum vulgare Fruit Extract

Abstract

This study investigated the vasorelaxant and anti-inflammatory activities of the methylene chloride fraction of crude methanolic Foeniculum vulgare fruit extract (FV). The vasorelaxant activity was examined on isolated rat aortic ring preparations precontracted with phenylephrine where as the anti-inflammatory activity was examined in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. FV attenuated the vasoconstriction of precontracted aortic strips in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was found to be endothelium-dependent and through the nitric oxide (NO)-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate pathway. In the anti-inflammatory assays, FV reduced NO release by inhibiting inducible NO synthase protein and mRNA and also suppressed cyclooxygenase-2 expression. It decreased the lipopolysaccharide-induced secretions of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 and significantly reduced the phosphorylation of c-Jun amino-terminal kinases (JNK1) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 (ERK1/2). Our results demonstrate that the methylene chloride fraction of the crude methanolic FV possesses potent vasorelaxant and anti-inflammatory activities.Practical ApplicationsFoeniculum vulgare mill is used traditionally for treatment of a good number of diseases. This study revealed that the methylene chloride fraction of the extract possesses significant vasorelaxant activity and also showed significant anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, it stands as a promising candidate for further studies in the synthesis of vasorelaxant and anti-inflammatory drugs after identification of biomarkers.