The quassinoid isobrucein B reduces inflammatory hyperalgesia and cytokine production by post-transcriptional modulation

J Nat Prod. 2015 Feb 27;78(2):241-9. doi: 10.1021/np500796f. Epub 2015 Feb 10.

Abstract

Isobrucein B (1) is a quassinoid isolated from the Amazonian medicinal plant Picrolemma sprucei. Herein we investigate the anti-inflammatory and antihyperalgesic effects of this quassinoid. Isobrucein B (1) (0.5-5 mg/kg) inhibited carrageenan-induced inflammatory hyperalgesia in mice in a dose-dependent manner. Reduced hyperalgesia was associated with reduction in both neutrophil migration and pronociceptive cytokine production. Pretreatment with 1 inhibited in vitro production/release of cytokines TNF, IL-1β, and KC/CXCL1 by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. To investigate its molecular mechanism, RAW 264.7 macrophages with a luciferase reporter gene controlled by the NF-κB promoter were used (RAW 264.7-Luc). Quassinoid 1 reduced the luminescence emission by RAW 264.7-Luc stimulated by different compounds. Unexpectedly, NF-κB translocation to macrophage nuclei was not inhibited by 1 when evaluated by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. Furthermore, quassinoid 1 did not change the levels of TNF mRNA transcription in stimulated macrophages, suggesting post-transcriptional modulation. In addition, constitutive expression of luciferase in RAW 264.7 cells transiently transfected with a plasmid containing a universal promoter was inhibited by 1. Thus, isobrucein B (1) displays anti-inflammatory and antihyperalgesic activities by nonselective post-transcriptional modulation, resulting in decreased production/release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and neutrophil migration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Brazil
  • Carrageenan / adverse effects
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Dinoprostone / metabolism
  • Hyperalgesia / drug therapy*
  • I-kappa B Proteins / drug effects
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Molecular Structure
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide / biosynthesis
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*
  • Quassins / chemistry
  • Quassins / pharmacology*
  • Simaroubaceae / chemistry*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cytokines
  • I-kappa B Proteins
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Quassins
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Nitric Oxide
  • isobrucein B
  • Carrageenan
  • Peroxidase
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Dinoprostone