alpha,beta-amyrin, a natural triterpenoid ameliorates L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To study the beneficial effects of triterpene alpha,beta-amyrin and the underlying mechanisms in an experimental pancreatitis model.


METHODS
Acute pancreatitis was induced in five groups of rats (n = 8) by L-arginine (2 x 2.5 g/kg, intraperitoneal, 1 h apart) and 1 h later, they received a single oral dose of alpha,beta-amyrin (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg), methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg) and vehicle (3% Tween 80). A saline (0.9% NaCl) treated group served as a normal control. Efficacy was assessed at 24 h by determination of serum levels of amylase, lipase and pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6], pancreatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, lipid peroxidation [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)], nitrate/nitrite levels, and the wet weight/body weight ratio. Tissue histology and the immunoreactivity for TNF-alpha and inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) were performed.


RESULTS
alpha,beta-amyrin and methylprednisolone treatments significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated the L-arginine-induced increases in pancreatic wet weight/body weight ratio, and decreased the serum levels of amylase and lipase, and TNF-alpha and IL-6, as compared to the vehicle control. Also, pancreatic levels of MPO activity, TBARS, and nitrate/nitrite were significantly lower. Histological findings and TNF-alpha and iNOS immunostaining further confirmed the amelioration of pancreatic injury by alpha,beta-amyrin.


CONCLUSIONS
alpha,beta-amyrin has the potential to combat acute pancreatitis by acting as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent.
Melo
Caroline-Mourão
CM
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedical Institute of Brazilian Semiarid, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, 60430-270 Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
Carvalho
Karine-Maria-Martins-Bezerra
KM
Neves
Julliana-Catharina-de-Sousa
JC
Morais
Talita-Cavalcante
TC
Rao
Vietla-Satyanarayana
VS
Santos
Flávia-Almeida
FA
Brito
Gerly-Anne-de-Castro
GA
Chaves
Mariana-Helena
MH
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000633:toxicity*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000187:drug effects; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000032:analysis; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D001120:Arginine; D009195:Peroxidase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C036380:beta-amyrin
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