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Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the hydrolyzed sasanquasaponins from the defatted seeds of Camellia oleifera

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Abstract

The defatted seeds of Camellia oleifera (Abel.) are used for stopping itching and pain in old days, the effective compounds need to be investigated. Sasanquasaponin as a rich fraction was extracted with 70 % ethanol, purified by AB-8 macro-reticular resin, crystallized in 80 % ethanol, and further hydrolyzed by 4 % hydroxyl potassium or 2 M hydrochloride. Anti-inflammatory activities of the extracts were measured by carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats and croton oil induced ear inflammation in mice; the analgesic activities were analyzed by hot plate test, acetic acid induced writhing in mice; the levels of pain mediators of IL-1β, TNF-α and PGE2 were determined; the antioxidative activities in vivo were evaluated by MDA, SOD and GSH-Px in serum of rats. The extracts showed significant (p < 0.01) anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, remarkably (p < 0.01) inhibited production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and PGE2, decreased MDA and increased SOD and GSH-Px in serum. Inhibition of IL-1β, TNF-α and PGE2 may contribute to their anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects; elimination of free radicals is also involved. The sapogenin and acid hydrolyzed product have better anti-inflammatory, analgesic effects, and stronger antioxidative activity than sasanquasaponin and alkaline hydrolyzed product, and they are better candidate medicines for inflammation and pain.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the staff in the laboratory center of South China University of Technology for analyzing spectroscopic data. The financial support for this work from the NSFC (No. 81173646) is also gratefully acknowledged. Funding of national natural science foundation of China (No.81173646).

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, People’s Republic of China

    Yong Ye, Haiting Xing & Xuelan Chen

  2. Pharmaceutical Engineering Department, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China

    Yong Ye

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  1. Yong Ye
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  2. Haiting Xing
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Correspondence to Yong Ye.

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Ye, Y., Xing, H. & Chen, X. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the hydrolyzed sasanquasaponins from the defatted seeds of Camellia oleifera . Arch. Pharm. Res. 36, 941–951 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-013-0138-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-013-0138-y

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