Maslinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene with a plethora of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, and antitumor effects. New derivatives with improved properties and broad-spectrum activity can be obtained following structural changes of the compound. The present study was aimed to characterize a benzylamide derivative of maslinic acid-benzyl (2α, 3β) 2,3-diacetoxy-olean-12-en-28-amide (EM2)-with respect to the anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects in two in vivo experimental models. Consequently, the compound showed good tolerability and lack of irritation in the chorioallantoic membrane assay with no impairment of the normal angiogenic process during the tested stages of development. In the acute ear inflammation murine model, application of EM2 induced a mild anti-inflammatory effect that was potentiated by the association with zinc chloride (ZnCl2). A decrease in dermal thickness of mice ears was observed when EM2 and ZnCl2 were applied separately or in combination. Moreover, hyalinization of the dermis appeared only when EM2 was associated with ZnCl2, strongly suggesting the role of their combination in wound healing.
Keywords: EM2, benzylamide derivative; angiogenesis; inflammation; maslinic acid; zinc chloride.