Tasmannia lanceolata extracts: anti-Proteus activity and potential for the treatment and prevention of rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction. A wide variety of herbal medicines are used in indigenous Australian traditional medicinal systems to treat RA and inflammation. Tasmannia lanceolata (Tasmanian pepper) has received recent attention as a potential medicine due to its high antioxidant content (Cock 2013) and antibacterial activity (Winnet et al 2014). Aims The current study was undertaken to test the ability of a panel of Tasmanian pepper extracts for the ability to block the microbial trigger of RA and to use metabolomics fingerprint analysis to detect anti-inflammatory compounds. Methods. Tasmanian pepper berry and leaf were extracted with solvents of varying polarity and investigated for the ability to inhibit the growth of the bacterial trigger of RA (P. mirabilis). The extracts were tested for toxicity in the Artemia nauplii bioassay. The most potent inhibitor of P. mirabilis growth was further analysed by RP-HPLC coupled to high accuracy TOF mass spectroscopy. Results. The Tasmanian pepper berry extracts were determined to be the most effective inhibitors of P. mirabilis growth, with MIC values as low as 11 and 126 µg/ml for the methanolic and aqueous extracts respectively. Subsequent analysis of the T. lanceolata fruit extracts by RP-HPLC coupled to high resolution TOF mass spectroscopy detected the resveratrol glycoside piceid and 2 combretastatin stilbenes in both T. lanceolata fruit extracts. All extracts were also shown to be non-toxic in the Artemia nauplii bioassay. Discussion. The low toxicity of these extracts and their inhibitory bioactivity against Proteus spp. indicate their potential in blocking the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.