Anti-Inflammatory Triterpenes from Pistacia terebinthus Galls

Abstract

From the galls of Pistacia terebinthus we obtained an extract that proved to be effective against chronic and acute inflammation. Now we report on the isolation and identification of three triterpenes: two tirucallane-type lanostanoids and one oleanane, which we have identified as masticadienonic acid (1), masticadienolic acid (2), and morolic acid (3), respectively. All of them showed effectiveness on the mouse ear inflammation induced by repeated applications of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate and on the phospholipase A₂-induced foot paw edema. The pharmacological activity of the compounds was ratified by a histological study of the ear samples. In addition, they inhibited leukotriene B₄ production in rat polymorphonuclear leukocytes stimulated with calcium ionophore A 23 187.

Abbreviations

DMSO:dimethyl sulfoxide

EPP:ethyl phenylpropiolate

HPLC-DAD:high performance liquid chromatography-diode
array detection

HTAB:hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide

5-LOX:5-lipoxygenase

LTB₄:leukotriene B₄

MPLC:medium pressure liquid chromatography

MTT:3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium
bromide

PGB₂:prostaglandin B₂

PLA₂:phospholipase A₂

PMNL:polymorphonuclear leukocytes

TMB:tetramethylbenzidine

TPA:12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate

VLC:vacuum liquid chromatography

Key words

Pistacia terebinthus - Anacardiaceae - triterpene - inflammation - leukotriene B₄ - phospholipase A₂ - skin

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