Tirucallol

Chios mastic gum extract and isolated phytosterol tirucallol exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in human aortic endothelial cells.[Pubmed:19234052]

Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2009 May;234(5):553-61.

Chios mastic gum (CMG) is a white, semitransparent, natural resin that is obtained as a trunk exudate from mastic trees. Triterpenic compounds and phytosterols like Tirucallol are among its major components. CMG has been associated with cardiovascular protection, exerting its effect mainly through increasing the antioxidant defense system, and effectively lowering the levels of serum cholesterol in human subjects. However, data on its anti-inflammatory effect on endothelium are scarce. Attachment of leukocytes to the vascular endothelium and the subsequent migration of cells into the vessel wall are early events in atherogenesis, and this process requires the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules. In this study, we examined the effect of CMG neutral extract (25-200 microg/ml) and Tirucallol (0.1-100 microM) on the following: 1) the expression of adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) by Cell ELISA and 2) the attachment of monocytes (U937 cells) in TNF-alpha stimulated Human Aortic Endothelial Cells (HAEC) by Adhesion assay. The impact of treatment with CMG neutral extract and Tirucallol in NFkB phosphorylation was also examined by a cell-based ELISA kit. Both CMG extract and Tirucallol inhibit significantly VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression in TNF-alpha-stimulated HAEC. They also inhibit significantly the binding of U937 cells to TNF-alpha-stimulated HAEC and attenuate the phosphorylation of NFkB p65. This study extends existing data regarding the cardioprotective effect of CMG, expands the spectrum of known phytosterols with potent antiatheromatic activity, provides new insight into the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of CMG on endothelial function, and may aid in design of new therapy for intervention in atherosclerosis.

Topical anti-inflammatory effect of tirucallol, a triterpene isolated from Euphorbia lactea latex.[Pubmed:19577446]

Phytomedicine. 2010 Feb;17(2):146-8.

Latex from Euphorbia lactea (Euphorbiaceae), a native Dominican medicinal plant, is claimed to be useful in the treatment of inflammation. Topical application of Tirucallol, a tetracyclic triterpene isolated from Euphorbia lacteal latex, suppressed ear edema in the mouse model in a dose-dependent manner, as well as affecting the influx of polymorphonuclear cells in response to topical application of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-acetate (TPA) in the mouse ear. In addition, the effect of Tirucallol, on some macrophage functions was analyzed in vitro. Non-toxic concentrations of Tirucallol potently inhibited nitrite production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. Western blot analysis showed that nitric oxide reduction was a consequence of the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthetase expression although Tirucallol slightly affected to prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) generation. The results of the study revealed that Tirucallol (0.3%), present in Euphorbia lactea latex, exerts a topical anti-inflammatory effect in vivo, via a mechanism of action related to the neutrophil migration. On the other hand, it can be deduced that the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activity of this triterpene is related to the control of the production of NO and its effect on the expression of iNOS.

An isopimarane diterpene from Euphorbia ebracteolata Hayata.[Pubmed:11249607]

J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2000;2(4):257-61.

From the ethanolic extract of the roots of Euphorbia ebracteolata Hayata four compounds were isolated. They are 24-methylenecycloartanone, Tirucallol, procesterol and a new isopimarane diterpene, namely yuexiandajisu C. The structure of yuexiandajisu C was elucidated by spectral analysis. The bioassay in vitro showed yuexiandajisu C exhibited immunomodulatory activity.