title: Anti-inflammatory effects of compounds alpha-humulene and (-)-trans-caryophyllene isolated from the essential oil of Cordia verbenacea.
abstract: This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory properties of two sesquiterpenes isolated from Cordia verbenacea's essential oil, alpha-humulene and (-)-trans-caryophyllene. Our results revealed that oral treatment with both compounds displayed marked inhibitory effects in different inflammatory experimental models in mice and rats. alpha-humulene and (-)-trans-caryophyllene were effective in reducing platelet activating factor-, bradykinin- and ovoalbumin-induced mouse paw oedema, while only alpha-humulene was able to diminish the oedema formation caused by histamine injection. Also, both compounds had important inhibitory effects on the mouse and rat carrageenan-induced paw oedema. Systemic treatment with alpha-humulene largely prevented both tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) generation in carrageenan-injected rats, whereas (-)-trans-caryophyllene diminished only TNFalpha release. Furthermore, both compounds reduced the production of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) expression, induced by the intraplantar injection of carrageenan in rats. The anti-inflammatory effects of alpha-humulene and (-)-trans-caryophyllene were comparable to those observed in dexamethasone-treated animals, used as positive control drug. All these findings indicate that alpha-humulene and (-)-trans-caryophyllene, derived from the essential oil of C. verbenacea, might represent important tools for the management and/or treatment of inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia-Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina-CCB-Bloco D Campus Universitário-Trindade, CP 476 88040-900 Florianópolis-SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elizabeth S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Giselle F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Passos
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Fernanda M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: da Cunha
authors.forename: Juliano
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Maria M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Luiz F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Pianowski
authors.forename: João B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Calixto
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil; D031213:Cordia / Q000737:chemistry*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D000081222:Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D000081222:Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D000081223:Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C042686:humulene; D003907:Dexamethasone; C024714:caryophyllene; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone