A new anti-inflammatory lupane in Ziziphus jujuba (L.) Gaertn. var. hysudrica Edgew.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate extracts of the stem bark of Ziziphus jujuba (L.) Gaertn. var. hysudrica Edgew. ( Rhamnaceae ) for anti-inflammatory activity and isolate the active principle(s).

METHODS: The dry powder was macerated separately in three types of solvents to prepare methanol extract (ME), ethyl acetate extract (EE), and chloroform extract (CE). Following in vitro anti-inflammatory screening, the most active extract was selected to isolate the active compound. Both, the active extract and isolated compound were further tested on rats using the carrageenan-induced inflammation model. The blood and paw tissue were subjected to qPCR, and histopathology, respectively.

KEY FINDINGS: CE showed comparatively higher anti-inflammatory activity (85.0-95.0 %) in all in vitro assays, except the heat-induced membrane stabilization model ( p  < 0.05), and upon column chromatography, it yielded a pure crystalline compound. The compound was a pentacyclic triterpenoid (Lupane), named as hydroxymethyl (3 β )-3-methyl-lup-20(29)-en-28-oate (Hussainate). CE (500 mg/kg) and Hussainate (1.0 mg/kg) reduced edema in 5 h after carrageenan administration. The activity of Hussainate was found to be comparable to that of dexamethasone (standard). The possible activity mechanism was the downregulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-II), NF-κB, and IL-1β.

CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that chloroform extract of the stem's bark of Z. jujuba may be used to prepare standardized anti-inflammatory herbal products using Hussainate as an active analytical marker. Hussainate may be used as a lead to develop anti-inflammatory drugs.