AUTHOR=Majdan Magdalena , Kiss Anna K. , Hałasa Rafał , Granica Sebastian , Osińska Ewa , Czerwińska Monika E. 

TITLE=Inhibition of Neutrophil Functions and Antibacterial Effects of Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus L.) Infusion—Phytochemical Characterization

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.00947

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2020.00947

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>The aim of the study was to characterize phytochemicals in an infusion of the aerial parts of tarragon <italic>(Artemisia dracunculus</italic> L.) using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detector electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry UHPLC‐DAD‐ESI‐MS/MS method, as well as an evaluation of its effects on mediators of the inflammation in an <italic>in vitro</italic> model of human neutrophils, and antimicrobial activity on selected pathogens. Flavonoids and caffeoylquinic acids were the main phenolic components of the extract of tarragon’s aerial parts. The infusion was able to inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS), interleukin 8 (IL-8), and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-<italic>α</italic>) production. The antimicrobial assay was performed with the use of nine strains of bacteria, both Gram-negative and Gram-positive. Three human pathogens, <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> ATCC6538, <italic>Staphylococcus epidermidis</italic> ATCC14990, and <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> MRSA (methicyllin-resistant <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic>) ATCC43300, proved to be the most sensitive to tarragon infusion. Our study demonstrated the antiinflammatory and antimicrobial properties of tarragon <italic>(Artemisia dracunculus</italic> L.), meaning the common spice may be a prospective source of health-promoting constituents.</p>