Anti-inflammatory activities of cucurbitacin E isolated from citrullus latus var. citroides: role of reactive nitrogen species and cyclooxygese enzyme inhibition

• Main Authors: Abdelwahab, Siddig Ibrahim, Ahmed Hassan, Loiy Elsir, Mohd. Sirat, Hasnah, Ahmed Yagi, Sakina M., Koko, Waleed S., Mohan, Syam, Taha, Manal Mohamed Elhassan, Ahmad, Syahida, Cheah, Shiau Chuen, Narrima, Putri, Rais, Mohd. Mustafa, A. Hadi, A. Hamid
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier BV 2011
• Subjects: QD Chemistry
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/44741/

The in vivo and in vitro mechanistic anti-inflammatory actions of cucurbitacin E (CE) (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) were examined. The results showed that LPS/INF-? increased NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages, whereas L-NAME and CE curtailed it. CE did not reveal any cytotoxicity on RAW264.7 and WRL-68 cells. CE inhibited both COX enzymes with more selectivity toward COX-2. Intraperitoneal injection of CE significantly suppressed carrageenaninduced rat's paw edema. ORAC and FRAP assays showed that CE is not a potent ROS scavenger. It could be concluded that CE is potentially useful in treating inflammation through the inhibition of COX and RNS but not ROS.