Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Activities of a Triterpene β-Elemonic Acid in Frankincense In Vivo and In Vitro.

Yue Zhang,Kun Zhou,Ying-Li Yu,Yan-Ru Deng,Hua Tian,Ya-Nan Bi,Li-Kang Sun,Xiao-Mei Yuan,Ru-Yu Bai

doi:10.3390/molecules24061187

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to extract and separate the compounds from frankincense, and then evaluate their anti-inflammatory effects. The isolated compound was a representative tetracyclic triterpenes of glycine structure according to 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectra, which is β-elemonic acid (β-EA). We determined the content of six different localities of frankincense; the average content of β-EA was 41.96 mg/g. The toxic effects of β-EA administration (400, 200, 100 mg/kg) for four weeks in Kunming (KM) mice were observed. Compared with the control group, the body weight of mice, the visceral coefficients and serum indicators in the β-EA groups showed no systematic variations. The anti-inflammatory effects of β-EA were evaluated in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, xylene-induced induced ear inflammation in mice, carrageenin-induced paw edema in mice, and cotton pellet induced granuloma formation in rats. β-EA inhibited overproduction of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), soluble TNF receptor 1 (sTNF R1), Eotaxin-2, Interleukin 10 (IL-10) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) in the RAW264.7 cells. Intragastric administration with β-EA (300, 200, and 100 mg/kg in mice, and 210, 140, and 70 mg/kg in rats) all produced distinct anti-inflammatory effects in vivo in a dose-dependent manner. Following treatment with β-EA (300 mg/kg, i.g.), the NO level in mice ears and PGE2 in mice paws both decreased (p < 0.01). In conclusion, our study indicates that β-EA could be a potential anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Highlights

Inflammation is the primary response to infection or injury to clear dead cells or agent and to promote tissue repair
Increasing attention has been paid to the development of new therapeutic agents from natural products or traditional medicinal plants due to their wider safety range
Several natural products have been comprehensively explored as a source of therapeutic agents [14]

Summary

Introduction

Inflammation is the primary response to infection or injury to clear dead cells or agent and to promote tissue repair. Inflammation can lead to tissue damage itself and dysfunction. Molecules 2019, 24, 1187 prostaglandin E2(PGE 2); cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or interleukin-6 (IL-6),; etc. Recent studies have shown that inflammation was associated with wounds, trauma, and swelling [2], and with many chronic diseases, such as cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, Molecules 2019, 24, x FOR PEER REVIEW. Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to treat prostaglandin E2(PGE 2); cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or interleukin-6 (IL-6),; acute inflammation. Recent studies very have shown that their inflammation was use associated with with wounds, adverse in the kidney, skin, and gut osteoporosis,

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