Planta Med 2008; 74(3): 215-220
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1034301
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

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

Guillermo Schinella1 , Silvia Aquila2 , Martín Dade3 , Rosa Giner4 , María del Carmen Recio4 , Etile Spegazzini2 , Perla de Buschiazzo3 , Horacio Tournier1 , José Luis Ríos4
  • 1Cátedra de Farmacología Básica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CIC Provincia de Buenos Aires, La Plata, Argentina
  • 2Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
  • 3Centro Universitario de Farmacología, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
  • 4Departament de Farmacologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
Further Information

Publication History

Received: December 5, 2007 Revised: January 7, 2008

Accepted: January 10, 2008

Publication Date:
08 February 2008 (online)

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-1β by 39 %, it had no effect on tumour necrosis factor-α 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 μM and by 71 % at 200 μM 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.

Abbreviations

DMSO:dimethyl sulfoxide

FITC:fluorescein isothiocyanate

IL-1β:interleukin-1β

LPS:lipopolysaccharide

MTT:3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl)-2,5-diphe-nyltetrazolium bromide

PBS:phosphate-buffered saline

PMN:polymorphonuclear

TNF-α:tumour necrosis factor-α

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José-Luis Rios

Departament de Farmacologia

Facultat de Farmàcia

Universitat de València

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Spain

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Email: riosjl@uv.es