Anti-inflammatory activity of Protium spruceanum (Benth.) Engler is associated to immunomodulation and enzymes inhibition

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Protium spruceanum (Burseraceae) is used in Brazilian traditional medicine as anti-inflammatory, but the factors involved in this activity were not yet characterized. Aims of the study: analyze the aspects involved in the anti-inflammatory activity of polar fractions obtained from extracts of leaves and branches. Materials and methods: Hydromethanolic fraction was obtained by liquid-liquid partition from crude ethanolic extract and its compounds were identified by LC-DAD-MS. Activity tests were performed using LPS + IFN-gamma stimulated J774A.1 macrophages. Cytokines were evaluated by CBA kit, NO by Griess method, ROS by DCFH-DA, N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) activity by spectrophotometric method, matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP-9) activity by zymography, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression by immunofluorescence and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) expression by Western blot. Results: Fractions induced an increase of IL-6 and IL-10 which leads to the control of pro-inflammatory cytokines levels. The treatment with the fractions also reduced NO production at all concentrations tested in all evaluated periods. ROS production by the macrophages was inhibited by the treatment and the leaves fraction showed the best results with a lower concentration than that observed for the branches. The enzymes assays showed that leaves fraction inhibited NAG and MMP-9 activities, as well as, iNOS and COX-2 expression. These activities can be associated with the presence of procyanidin, catechin, rutin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin and kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside, major compounds that were identified in the fraction. Conclusions: Anti-inflammatory activity of P. spruceanum is associated to an immunomodulatory effect that leads to inhibition of ROS, NO, NAG, MMP-9, COX-2 and iNOS.