# Bioactive Metabolites from Aerial Parts of Plantago indica L.: Structural Elucidation and Integrated In Vitro/In Vivo Assessment of Anti-Inflammatory and Wound-Healing Efficacy

**Authors:** Hilal Bacanak, Zeynep Dogan, Esra Küpeli Akkol, Akito Nagatsu, Iclal Saracoglu

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/plants15010141 · Plants · 2026-01-03

## TL;DR

This study identifies bioactive compounds in Plantago indica that show anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties in lab and animal tests.

## Contribution

The study reports the isolation and characterization of six compounds from Plantago indica and evaluates their anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects.

## Key findings

- Feruloyl gardoside significantly reduced NO and IL-6 levels in vitro.
- In vivo tests showed anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects of the extracts.
- Plantago indica compounds demonstrated antioxidant and cytocompatible properties.

## Abstract

The genus Plantago (Plantaginaceae) is widely distributed worldwide. The Plantago species are used in traditional medicine as wound healers, anti-inflammatory agents, antipyretics, and analgesics. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition from the aerial parts of Plantago indica L. and to evaluate its biological activities. Isolation studies and in vitro investigations were conducted on an aqueous phase of 80% EtOH extract of Plantago indica. In addition, in vivo studies were carried out using the MeOH, 80% EtOH, and water extracts. Plantarenaloside (1), 3-oxo-α-ionol β-glucoside (2), martynoside (3), acteoside (4), feruloyl gardoside (5), and ursolic acid (6) were isolated from the extract. The structures of the compounds were elucidated using 1D- and 2D-NMR and ESI-MS analyses. The extract, fractions, and pure compounds were tested in vitro for cytotoxicity (MTT), anti-inflammatory activity (NO, IL-6, and TNF-α production), wound healing (scratch test), and antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS, SO). Feruloyl gardoside (20.11–58.27%) significantly reduced NO levels at concentrations of 25–100 µM. It significantly reduced IL-6 levels (40.17%) at 100 µM. Additionally, the in vivo anti-inflammatory (acetic acid-induced vascular permeability) and wound healing (incision and excision models) effects of the extracts were investigated. The findings suggest that P. indica may be considered to be a potential therapeutic option for managing inflammation and for promoting wound healing.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** NO (PubChem CID 24822), IL-6 (PubChem CID 165368475), ABTS (PubChem CID 35688), SO (PubChem CID 114845), ursolic acid (PubChem CID 64945), acteoside (PubChem CID 5281800), martynoside (PubChem CID 5319292), plantarenaloside (PubChem CID 155882)
- **Species:** Plantago indica (taxon 197794)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** IL6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 3569] {aka BSF-2, BSF2, CDF, HGF, HSF, IFN-beta-2}, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124] {aka DIF, IMD127, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, TNLG1F}
- **Diseases:** cytotoxicity (MESH:D064420), Inflammatory (MESH:D007249)
- **Chemicals:** water (MESH:D014867), NO (MESH:D009614), Plantarenaloside (MESH:C000590713), acteoside (MESH:C058956), 3-oxo-alpha-ionol beta-glucoside (-), acetic acid (MESH:D019342), ABTS (MESH:C002502), DPPH (MESH:C004931), EtOH (MESH:D000431), MTT (MESH:C070243), ursolic acid (MESH:C005466), martynoside (MESH:C410405)
- **Species:** P. indica [taxon 316126]

## Full text

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## Figures

6 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12787502/full.md

## References

63 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12787502/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12787502