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Planta Med 2003; 69(10): 893-898
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-45096
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Isolation of Two Triterpenoids and a Biflavanone with Anti-Inflammatory Activity from Schinus molle Fruits

Zeng Yueqin1 , M. Carmen Recio1 , Salvador Máñez1 , Rosa M. Giner1 , M. Cerdá-Nicolás2 , José-Luis Ríos1
  • 1Departament de Farmacologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
  • 2Departament de Patologia, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain
This work was supported by the Spanish Government (PM98-0206). Yue-qin Zeng (fellowship from Spanish Government - AECI)
Further Information

Publication History

Received: February 13, 2003

Accepted: June 19, 2003

Publication Date:
02 December 2003 (online)

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Abstract

Three compounds with anti-inflammatory activity were isolated from Schinus molle fruits. Two of the compounds were identified as 3-epi-isomasticadienolalic acid (1), isomasticadienonalic acid (2) and chamaejasmin (3). Triterpenes 1 and 2, and biflavanone 3 were tested on two models of mice paw inflammation: one of acute inflammation, induced by subcutaneous injection of either phospholipase A2 (PLA2) or carrageenan in the paws of mice, and one of chronic inflammation in the form of eczema, provoked by repeated administration of TPA to the ears of mice. On the PLA2-induced mouse paw oedema, only 2 was active (30 mg/kg, 66 % inhibition at 60 min), whereas all compounds reduced the chronic model of inflammation (48 to 26 % of swelling reduction), but only triterpenes reduced the leukocyte infiltration, measured as tissue peroxidase activity. In the case of the carrageenan-induced mouse paw oedema, only 3 led to a reduction of the swelling 3 h after challenge (50 mg/kg, 46 % oedema inhibition). In addition, 3 inhibited the LTB4 production in rat peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes with an IC50 value of 29.8 μM, while triterpenes showed toxicity against cells at 100 μM.

Key words

Schinus molle - Anacardiaceae - triterpenoids - biflavanone - chamaejasmin - anti-inflammatory activity - leukotriene B4 - phospholipase A2

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Prof. Dr. J.-L. Ríos

Departament de Farmacologia

Facultat de Farmàcia

Universitat de València

Avda. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n

46100 Burjassot

Valencia

Spain

Phone: /Fax: +34-963544973

Email: riosjl@uv.es