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Betulin Derivatives Effectively Suppress Inflammation in Vitro and in Vivo

J Nat Prod. 2016 Feb 26;79(2):274-80. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00709. Epub 2016 Jan 14.

Abstract

Betulin is a pharmacologically active triterpenoid found in the bark of the birch tree (Betula sp. L.). Betulin and betulinic acid are structurally related to anti-inflammatory steroids, but little is known about their potential anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, the inflammatory gene expression and the anti-inflammatory properties of betulin, betulinic acid, and 16 semisynthetic betulin derivatives were investigated. Betulin derivatives 3, 4, and 5 selectively inhibited the expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in a post-transcriptional manner. They also inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production but had no effect on the other inflammatory factors studied. More interestingly, a new anti-inflammatory betulin derivative 9 with a wide-spectrum anti-inflammatory activity was discovered. Compound 9 was found to suppress the expression of cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), as well as that of prostaglandin synthase-2 (COX-2) in addition to iNOS. The in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of compound 9 was indicated via significant suppression of the carrageenan-induced paw inflammation in mice. The results show, for the first time, that the pyrazole-fused betulin derivative (9) and related compounds have anti-inflammatory properties that could be utilized in drug development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Betula
  • Betulinic Acid
  • Carrageenan / pharmacology
  • Chemokine CCL2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / drug effects
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Dinoprostone / metabolism
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Interleukin-6 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-6 / pharmacology
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / drug effects
  • Pentacyclic Triterpenes
  • Triterpenes / chemistry
  • Triterpenes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Chemokine CCL2
  • Cytokines
  • IL6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-6
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Pentacyclic Triterpenes
  • Triterpenes
  • Nitric Oxide
  • betulin
  • Carrageenan
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Dinoprostone
  • Betulinic Acid