Allium ursinum L. from the apennine flora: a phytoalimurgic resource for modulating gut inflammation

Allium ursinum L. is a perennial herbaceous plant widely distributed across Europe and Asia. Its leaves are traditionally consumed as food and used in folk medicine, particularly for gastrointestinal well-being. Despite its phytochemical and ethnopharmacological similarity to Allium sativum, whose gastrointestinal protective effects are well documented, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of A. ursinum in the intestinal tract remain poorly explored. This study investigated antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and anti-inflammatory effects of leaf polar extracts of A. ursinum, providing experimental support for its traditional use in food and pharmaceutical applications. Ultrasound-assisted extraction was performed using water and hydroalcoholic solvents. Extracts were characterized using chromatographic, spectroscopic, and NMR techniques. Antioxidant activity was evaluated through DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP assays, while enzyme inhibition against α-glucosidase, α-amylase, tyrosinase, and cholinesterases was assessed by colorimetric methods. Anti-inflammatory effects were investigated using isolated mouse colon tissue exposed to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), evaluating mRNA expression of IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS. The extracts displayed a complex metabolite profile dominated by sulfur-containing compounds, mainly methiin and alliin. The water extracts were rich in sugars, amino acids, and organic acids, whereas hydroalcoholic extracts preferentially concentrated polyphenols. The latter showed the strongest antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities, correlating with total phenolic and flavonoid content. Notably, the 50% hydroalcoholic extract significantly downregulated LPS-induced IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS gene expression in isolated colon tissue ex vivo, demonstrating anti-inflammatory activity. Overall, these findings support the use of A. ursinum extracts for gastrointestinal health. Further studies are warranted to define pharmacological and toxicological profile.