title: Anti-inflammatory effect of α,β-amyrin, a triterpene from Protium heptaphyllum, on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of α,β-amyrin, a pentacyclic triterpenoid from Protium heptaphyllum, on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acute pancreatitis was induced in Swiss mice by five intraperitoneal injections of cerulein (50 μg/kg), at 1 h intervals. Mice received α,β-amyrin (10, 30 and 100 mg/kg), thalidomide (200 mg/kg), or vehicle (3% Tween 80) orally 1 h before and 12 h after the cerulein challenge. The severity of pancreatitis was evaluated 24 h after cerulein by assessing serum pro-inflammatory cytokines and amylase activity, pancreatic myeloperoxidase (MPO), and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), as well as by histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  α,β-Amyrin and thalidomide significantly attenuated the cerulein-induced increase in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-6, lipase, amylase, MPO, and TBARS. Moreover, α,β-amyrin greatly suppressed the pancreatic edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, acinar cell necrosis, and expressions of TNFα and inducible nitric oxide synthase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  α,β-Amyrin ameliorates cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis by acting as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Cel Nunes de Melo, 1127, Rodolfo Teófilo, Fortaleza, CE 60430-270, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.forename: Talita C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: Adriana R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Tomé
authors.forename: Gerly Anne C
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Mariana H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chaves
authors.forename: Vietla S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Flávia A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029403:Burseraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002108:Ceruletide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013792:Thalidomide; D009828:Oleanolic Acid; D002108:Ceruletide; D009195:Peroxidase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D000681:Amylases; C036380:beta-amyrin