title: Indicaxanthin from cactus pear fruit exerts anti-inflammatory effects in carrageenin-induced rat pleurisy.
abstract: Nutritional research has shifted recently from alleviating nutrient deficiencies to chronic disease prevention. We investigated the activity of indicaxanthin, a bioavailable phytochemical of the betalain class from the edible fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica (L. Miller) in a rat model of acute inflammation. Rat pleurisy was achieved by injection of 0.2 mL of λ-carrageenin in the pleural cavity, and rats were killed 4, 24, and 48 h later; exudates were collected to analyze inflammatory parameters, such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); cells recruited in pleura were analyzed for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) activation. Indicaxanthin (0.5, 1, or 2 μmol/kg), given orally before carrageenin, time- and dose-dependently, reduced the exudate volume (up to 70%) and the number of leukocytes recruited in the pleural cavity (up to 95%) at 24 h. Pretreatment with indicaxanthin at 2 μmol/kg inhibited the carrageenin-induced release of PGE(2) (91.4%), NO (67.7%), IL-1β (53.6%), and TNF-α (71.1%), and caused a decrease of IL-1β (34.5%), TNF-α (81.6%), iNOS (75.2%), and COX2 (87.7%) mRNA, as well as iNOS (71.9%) and COX-2 (65.9%) protein expression, in the recruited leukocytes. Indicaxanthin inhibited time- and dose- dependently the activation of NF-κB, a key transcription factor in the whole inflammatory cascade. A pharmacokinetic study with a single 2 μmol/kg oral administration showed a maximum 0.22 ± 0.02 μmol/L (n = 15) plasma concentration of indicaxanthin, with a half-life of 1.15 ± 0.11 h. When considering the high bioavailability of indicaxanthin in humans, our findings suggest that this dietary pigment has the potential to improve health and prevent inflammation-based disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Allegra
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ianaro
authors.forename: Mariaroberta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tersigni
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Panza
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tesoriere
authors.forename: Maria Antonia
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Livrea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050860:Betaxanthins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002351:Carrageenan; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D029747:Opuntia / Q000737:chemistry*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D035422:Pleural Cavity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D050860:Betaxanthins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011725:Pyridines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C469628:indicaxanthin; D002351:Carrageenan