Anti-inflammatory activities and mechanisms of action of the petroleum ether fraction of Rosa multiflora Thunb. hips.
BACKGROUND
The hip of Rosa multiflora Thunb. has been traditionally used as a dietary supplement and a herbal remedy for the treatment of various diseases including cold, flu, inflammation, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic pain in China.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the anti-inflammatory ingredient of the hip of R. multiflora Thunb. and its mechanism of action.


METHODS
The ethanol extract of the hip of R. multiflora Thunb. was fractioned with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and water, and each fraction was screened for anti-inflammatory activity in xylene-induced mouse ear edema model. Three more models, acetic acid-induced mouse vascular permeation, cotton pellet-induced rat granuloma, and carrageenan-induced rat hind paw edema were also employed to verify the anti-inflammatory effect of the identified fraction. To explore the mechanism of action, the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the level of nitric oxide (NO) in sera, as well as mRNA expression level of cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) in inflammatory tissues of rats with carrageenan-induced hind paw edema were measured. GC-MS technology was applied to identify the active components in the active fraction.


CONCLUSIONS
The petroleum ether fraction (PEF) was identified to be the active fraction in inflammation animal models (i.e., oral administration of PEF (168.48, 42.12 and 10.53 mg/kg) evoked a significantly (P<0.001) dose-dependent inhibition of the xylene-induced mice ear edema). Down-regulating COX-2 expression (P<0.001) and reducing NO production (P<0.05) through inhibiting iNOS activity (P<0.001) may be the partial mechanism of action of PEF. GC-MS analysis indicated that unsaturated fatty acids are enriched in PEF and may be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of PEF and this herb. The results of this study provide pharmacological and chemical basis for the application of the hip of R. multiflora Thunb. in inflammatory disorders.
State Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Shenzhen, PR China.
Dejian
D
Guo
Lijia
L
Xu
Xinwei
X
Cao
Yuqing
Y
Guo
Yan
Y
Ye
Chi-On
CO
Chan
Daniel K W
DK
Mok
Zhiling
Z
Yu
Sibao
S
Chen
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000473:Alkanes / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002351:Carrageenan; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006099:Granuloma / Q000188:drug therapy; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D027826:Rosa / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D014992:Xylenes
D000473:Alkanes; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D014992:Xylenes; D002351:Carrageenan; C004544:naphtha; D019342:Acetic Acid