Helianthus tuberosus aerial parts: An emerging source of bioactive constituents

Abstract

This study investigates the pharmacological properties of a dry extract obtained from Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke) herb, a rich source of bioactive compounds (BAC), including phenolic derivatives with demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects. The research focuses on a standardized dry extract containing 5.13±0.44% total phenolics (expressed as chlorogenic acid equivalents), alongside fractionated BACs of differential polarity (ethyl acetate, butanol, alcoholic, and aqueous fractions). Building upon prior findings confirming the extract’s hepatoprotective efficacy-evidenced by its mitigation of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in rats through biochemical and histopathological assessments—this work elucidates the mechanistic basis of such effects and evaluates its anti-inflammatory potential using in vitro and in vivo models. Mechanistic studies employed specialized enzymatic bioassay systems (cytochrome P450, glutathione transferase, and inducible NO synthase) from the VILAR Research Institute’s Biological Collection to delineate the detoxification and anti-inflammatory pathways. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity was assessed via a formalin-induced murine paw edema model, wherein the extract elicited a statistically significant 15% reduction in edema. Complementary in vitro analyses revealed enzyme-BAC interactions as a plausible molecular foundation for the observed bioactivity. Collectively, these findings underscore the therapeutic potential of H. tuberosus extract as a candidate for developing novel plant-derived pharmaceuticals with hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory applications.