Studies on the anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyrexic activities of betulinic acid derived from <i>Tetracera Potatoria</i>.

Abstract

Background: The anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activity of betulinic acid (BA) was investigated in this study. The triterpene was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Tetracera potatoria and its structure was verified by IR and NMR spectroscopy. The bioactivity of this compound was assessed using carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats and carrageenan-induced pulmonary oedema in mice for the antiinflammatory activity, while acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice and zymosan-induced fever in rats were used for analgesic test. Materials and Methods: Rats and mice were randomly divided into groups of five animals. For each experiment, betulinic acid at 10, 20 or 40mg/kg b.w was administered intraperitoneally to the first three groups respectively. The fourth group was administered with indomethacin (10mg/kg) or acetylsalicylic acid (150mg/kg), while the fifth group was administered with distilled water (10ml/kg). Data obtained were expressed as mean±S.E.M and significant differences were determined at p<0.05. Results: BA significantly reduced carrageenan-induced paw oedema by 11.0%, 45.7%, 68.6% or pulmonary oedema by 25.6, 29.2 and 45.13% dose dependently. 40 mg/kg of BA inhibited paw oedema by 68.6% comparably to acetylsalicylic acid (71.4%) or indomethacin (51.33%) respectively. Abdominal writhing was also significantly (p<0.05) reduced to 17.20 writhes by BA (40mg/kg) comparable to Indomethacin (16.3writhes). Fever was inhibited by BA most significantly by 3hours post-injection of zymosan (1.00, 1.45, 0.00 0 C) and this inhibitory effect was higher than that observed for acetylsalicylic acid (0.30 0 C). Conclusion: Betulinic acid derived from Tetracera potatoria exhibited potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic or antipyrexic activity which is comparable to indomethacin or acetylsalicyclic acid.

Effects of Betulinic Acid on the Male Reproductive System of a Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide-Induced Diabetic Mouse Model

“…Thereafter, BA (Sigma-Aldrich) and metformin (as a standard type 2 diabetes drug; Sigma-Aldrich) were orally administered by stainless steel feeding tubes (24 gauge [0.6 mm outer diameter×0.4 mm inner diameter]×25 mm) for 2 weeks after confirmed diabetes induction in the treatment groups. Hence, mice were divided into 6 groups (n=10): control, diabetes, diabetes+BA at 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, and 40 mg/kg [11], and diabetes+metformin at 200 mg/kg [12]. …”

Preventive effects of betulinic acid on streptozotocinnicotinamide induced diabetic nephropathy in male mouse

“…Since, it has been suggested that the development of diabetic nephropathy would be started at 3 weeks after STZ injection (2); BA (Sigma-Aldrich, USA) and metformin (Sigma-Aldrich, USA) were orally administered 2 weeks after confirmed diabetes induction for prevention of diabetic nephropathy. Hence, mice were divided into six groups (10 mice in each group): control, diabetes group, diabetic mice receiving BA (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) (10), and diabetic mice receiving metformin (200 mg/kg) (11) as a standard diabetes drug. …”

Pharmacological and Ethnomedicinal Overview of Heritiera fomes: Future Prospects

“…Betulinic acid has been reported from both Sonneratia apetala [ 73 ] and Ceriops tagal [ 75 ]. Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyrexic effects of this compound isolated from Tetracera potatoria have been reported [ 76 ]. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity (which can result in analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis) has been reported for bruguierin A, isolated from Bruguiera gymnorrhiza [ 60 ].…”