Evaluation of the in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of extracts from Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd

J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Aug 25;58(16):8983-7. doi: 10.1021/jf101390q. Epub 2010 Jul 30.

Abstract

Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd., as a pharmaceutical supplement, is widely used in northern China to treat respiratory diseases. Our previous studies showed the ethanol extract of P. bretschneideri had significant anti-inflammatory activity. To isolate and identify the active ingredients, the ethanol extract was separated into petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions. The bioactivity of each fraction was investigated using an in vivo model. Results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the strongest anti-inflammatory effect. Subsequently, this fraction was subjected to separation and purification using silica gel column chromatography, C18-ODS, and recrystallization, leading to two sterols and two triterpenes, which were identified as β-sitosterol, daucosterol, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid. Moreover, all of the isolated compounds could significantly inhibit the ear edema induced by xylene. These results indicated that P. bretschneideri had good anti-inflammatory effects and the constituents β-sitosterol, daucosterol, oleanolic acid, and ursolic acid might well account for it.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Capillary Permeability / drug effects
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Mice
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Pyrus / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Plant Extracts