Abstract
α, β amyrin (ABAM) is a natural mixture of pentacyclic triterpenes that has a wide range of biological activities. ABAM is isolated from the species of the Burseraceae family, in which the species Protium is commonly found in the Amazon region of Brazil. The aim of this work was to develop inclusion complexes (ICs) of ABAM and β-cyclodextrin (βCD) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) by physical mixing (PM) and kneading (KN) methods. Interactions between ABAM and the CD’s as well as the formation of ICs were confirmed by physicochemical characterization in the solid state by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Physicochemical characterization indicated the formation of ICs with both βCD and HPβCD. Such ICs were able to induce changes in the physicochemical properties of ABAM. In addition, the formation of ICs with cyclodextrins showed to be an effective and promising alternative to enhance the anti-inflammatory activity and safety of ABAM.
Highlights
The species Protium heptaphyllum (Burseraceae) is popularly known in Amazon, Brazil as “breu-branco” and “almecegueira” [1]
ABAM was obtained following the protocol described by Silva-Júnior et al [19], from commercially available Burseraceae oi-resin from Manaus, Central Amazon (Brazil), where Protium heptaphyllum is the endemic species
The band at the 3250–3400 cm−1 region is attributed to the hydroxyl group (O-H) attached to a cycloalkane chain and that of the 1031–1100 cm−1 region is associated with C-O bond vibration. Another characteristic band is found in the 1400–1350 cm−1 region, which is due to the angular deformation of the dimethyl and methyl duplet [19]
Summary
The species Protium heptaphyllum (Burseraceae) is popularly known in Amazon, Brazil as “breu-branco” and “almecegueira” [1]. From the trunk of its trees is obtained a natural exuded oil-resin that is rich in volatile monoterpenes and triterpenes, especially α and β amirin (ABAM). Having a wide range of biological activities, triterpenes have aroused clinical interest [4]. ABAM is a well-known natural mixture of isomeric triterpenes whose pharmacological properties include anti-inflammatory [5], gastroprotective [6], antitumor [7], anxiolytic [8] and hepatoprotective [6]. The anti-inflammatory activity of ABAM has been demonstrated in different experimental models through the inhibition of the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β) and the enzyme myelopereroxidase [6,9].
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