Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Agrimoniin-Enriched Fractions of Potentilla erecta.
Potentilla erecta (PE) is a small herbaceous plant with four yellow petals belonging to the Rosaceae family. The rhizome of PE has traditionally been used as an antidiarrheal, hemostatic and antihemorrhoidal remedy. PE contains up to 20% tannins and 5% ellagitannins, mainly agrimoniin. Agrimoniin is a hydrolyzable tannin that is a potent radical scavenger. In this study we tested the anti-inflammatory effect of four PE fractions with increasing amounts of agrimoniin obtained by Sephadex column separation. First, we analyzed in HaCaT keratinocytes the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) induced by ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiation. As COX-2 catalyzes the metabolism of arachidonic acid to prostanoids such as PGE₂, we also measured the PGE₂ concentration in cell culture supernatants. PE inhibited UVB-induced COX-2 expression in HaCaT cells and dose-dependently reduced PGE₂. The PE fraction with the highest agrimoniin amount (PE4) was the most effective in this experiment, whereas fraction PE1 containing mainly sugars had no effect. PE4 also dose dependently inhibited the phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which plays a crucial role in UVB-mediated COX-2 upregulation. A placebo-controlled UV-erythema study with increasing concentrations of PE4 demonstrated a dose dependent inhibition of UVB-induced inflammation in vivo. Similarly, PE4 significantly reduced UVB-induced PGE₂ production in suction blister fluid in vivo. In summary, PE fractions with a high agrimoniin content display anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo in models of UVB-induced inflammation.
Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. julia.hoffmann@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
Julia
J
Hoffmann
Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. usfreiburg@gmx.de.
Federica
F
Casetti
Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. birgit.haarhaus@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
Ute
U
Bullerkotte
Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. christoph.schempp@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
Birgit
B
Haarhaus
ARCIM Institute, 70794 Filderstadt-Bonlanden, Germany. j.vagedes@arcim-institute.de.
Jan
J
Vagedes
Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Christoph M
CM
Schempp
Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, 79104 Freiburg, Germany. ute.woelfle@uniklinik-freiburg.de.
Ute
U
Wölfle
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000528:radiation effects; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D031987:Potentilla / Q000737:chemistry; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins; D010936:Plant Extracts; C052420:agrimoniin; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors
COX-2; EGFR; PGE2; Potentilla erecta; UVB; agrimoniin