Anti-Inflammatory and Apoptotic Activities of Pomolic Acid Isolated from Cecropia pachystachya

Abstract

The dichloromethane extract and pomolic acid ( 5) obtained from leaves of Cecropia pachystachya both reduced carrageenan-induced paw oedema in mice. Interestingly, while the triterpenoid inhibited the in vivo production of interleukin-1beta by 39 %, it had no effect on tumour necrosis factor-alpha production. We also demonstrated that both the dichloromethane extract and 5 inhibited the viability of human polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. The PMN membrane integrity was determined with the aid of flow cytometry by means of the exclusion of propidium iodide as assay. Although the cell membrane integrity was altered, neither the extract nor 5 produced cellular necrosis. Moreover, the development of hypodiploid nuclei and DNA fragmentation in the PMN cells were both dependent on dose and time. Finally, in the annexin V-FITC binding assay, compound 5 increased the total of apoptotic cells by 42 % at 100 microM and by 71 % at 200 microM with respect to the control group. In conclusion, both the dichloromethane extract of ambay and isolated compound 5 inhibit the viability of PMN cells through apoptosis. Since they can regulate human neutrophil functions in this way, it is likely that these substances can also limit inflammation.

Novel stilbenoids, including cannabispiradienone glycosides, from Tragopogon tommasinii (Asteraceae, Cichorieae) and their potential anti-inflammatory activity

“…Cytotoxicity of compounds 13-15 and 17-20 was determined by a standard flow cytometric probe using propidium iodide (PI) staining to distinguish cells with diminished membrane integrity according to a method previously described by Schinella et al (2008). Neutrophils (2 Â 10 5 /ml) were cultured in a 24-well plate in RPMI 1640 medium with 10% FBS, 10 mM HEPES, and 2 mM Lglutamine for 24 h at 37°C with 5% CO 2 in presence of compounds at the concentration of 50 lM.…”

A hot‐water extract of Sanguisorba officinalis ameliorates endotoxin‐induced septic shock by inhibiting inflammasome activation

“…Several of these compounds, including ellagic acid, pomolic acid and ziyuglycoside, have been studied previously. Ellagic acid has been shown to have anti‐inflammatory, anti‐proliferative, apoptotic and antioxidant activities ; pomolic acid has been shown to exhibit anti‐inflammatory and anti‐apoptotic activities ; and ziyuglycoside has been shown to suppress inflammation and proliferation, as well as induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis . Therefore, the predominant components in HSO may be valuable sources of anti‐inflammatory agents.…”

Triterpenoids and flavonoids from Cecropia schreberiana Miq. (Urticaceae)

“…Pomolic acid ( 1 ) and α-amyrin ( 3 ) have been obtained from C. pathystachya (Hikawczuk et al, 1998, Schinella et al, 2008). Tormentic acid ( 2 ) has been obtained from C. pathystachya (Uchoa et al, 2010), C. catharinensis (Machado et al, 2008) and C. lyratiloba (Rocha et al, 2007).…”