Anti-inflammatory activity of coumarins isolated from Tagetes lucida Cav.

The anti-inflammatory activity of hexane (TlH) and acetone (TlAc) extracts from the aerial parts of Tagetes lucida were evaluated in a mice model of 12-Ο-Tetradecanoylphorbol 13-Acetate (TPA)-induced auricular oedema. Also, five coumarin compounds from the TlH extract were identified, characterized and evaluated: 7-isoprenyloxycoumarin (1), herniarin (2), 6-methoxy-7-isoprenyloxycoumarin (3), 6,7,8-trimethoxycoumarin (4) and scoparone (5). Compounds 1 and 3 had not been previously identified in T. lucida. Compound 1 showed the highest activity with an 81.1% of oedema inhibition, while 2 reduced it in 54.4%, the other compounds showed less than 50% of inhibitory activity. The chemical structure of the compounds reveal that the substituent at the C-7 position is a crucial factor in exerting the anti-inflammatory activity.