Hypericum japonicum Thunb. ex Murray is traditionally used in Nepal to treat several diseases, among whom inflammation and acute pain. Although several secondary metabolites from the same Hypericum species have been already characterized and considered for their pharmacological use, an exhaustive phytochemical characterization of H. japonicum from Nepal is lacking, as well as the assessment of its potential pharmacological properties. Hence, the aims of this study were the characterization of a methanolic extract of H. japonicum (HJME) collected from the Northern region of Nepal by LC-MSn and UPLC-QTOF. The assessment of in vitro inhibition of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcription factors and HJME's cytotoxic effect on human cell lines was performed to evaluate the potential use of this herb as a source of anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic lead compounds. Fifty-seven phytoconstituents were identified, being mainly flavonoids, phloroglucinols, phenolic acids and xanthones. Although compounds characteristic of H. japonicum were detected (quercetin, quercetin-7-O-α-l-rhamnoside, quercitrin and hyperoside), several others are here reported for the first time in this species. The results from bioassays indicated that HJME could significantly reduce the viability of human THP-1 cells (IC50 = 5.4 ± 1.1 μg mL-1), showing the promising potential of HJME as anti-tumor agent. Furthermore, HJME significantly decreased the activation of both NF-κB and AP-1 at the concentration of 2 μg mL-1. Overall, these data suggest that H. japonicum from Nepal could be used as a source of potential natural anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor lead compounds.

Central Department of Botany Tribhuvan University 44600 Kirtipur Kathmandu Nepal

Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences University of Padova Via Marzolo 5 35131 Padova Italy

Division of Biologically Active Complexes and Molecular Magnets Regional Centre of Advanced Technologies and Materials Faculty of Science Palacký University in Olomouc Šlechtitelů 27 783 71 Olomouc Czech Republic

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