Avaliação da atividade anti-inflamatória de triterpenos isolados de óleo-resinas de Protium paniculatum Engler (Burseraceae)

Abstract

Protium is the main genus of the Burseraceae family and one of the most common genera in South America, being representative of the flora of the Amazon region. In folk medicine, gums and oil-resins Protium species are used for various diseases, as a tonic and stimulating, for the treatment of ulcers and inflammation. The present study aimed investigates the anti-inflammatory activity of triterpenes compounds isolated from oil-resin of Protium paniculatum Engler (Burseraceae). Were evaluated the cytotoxic potential of pentacyclic triterpenes in murine J774 macrophage lines by Alamar Blue method. Cells were treated with triterpenoids and stimulated with LPS after 24 hours and the cell supernatant was collected for evaluation of nitric oxide (NO ) by Griess reaction and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ) by flow cytometry. In the assessment of cytotoxicity was observed that triterpenes pentacyclic αβ-amyrin, αβ-amyrin acetylated, αβ-amyrone and brein/maniladiol did not alter the viability of murine J774 macrophages (IC50 > 20 μg/mL), with the exception of triterpene brein/maniladiol which showed moderate cytotoxic activity. Analyzing the effects on the production of inflammatory mediators, it was observed that the triterpene compounds at 10 μg/mL inhibited more than 80% production of NO , although only α,β-amyrin was able to inhibit the production of TNF-α (52.03 ± 2.4%). All analyzed triterpenes compounds inhibited the production of IL-6 and induced the production of IL-10 in murine J774 macrophages stimulated by LPS. The triterpene αβ-amyrone inhibited the expression of COX-2 in the same way that inhibited the formation of paw edema in rats induced by carrageenan, producing a quick and immediated effect. This study may provide a basis for future investigations on the therapeutic role of α, β-amirona in treating inflammation.