Indicaxanthin from cactus pear fruit exerts anti-inflammatory effects in carrageenin-induced rat pleurisy.

Abstract

Nutritional research has shifted recently from alleviating nutrient deficiencies to chronic disease prevention. We investigated the activity of indicaxanthin, a bioavailable phytochemical of the betalain class from the edible fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica (L. Miller) in a rat model of acute inflammation. Rat pleurisy was achieved by injection of 0.2 mL of λ-carrageenin in the pleural cavity, and rats were killed 4, 24, and 48 h later; exudates were collected to analyze inflammatory parameters, such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); cells recruited in pleura were analyzed for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) activation. Indicaxanthin (0.5, 1, or 2 μmol/kg), given orally before carrageenin, time- and dose-dependently, reduced the exudate volume (up to 70%) and the number of leukocytes recruited in the pleural cavity (up to 95%) at 24 h. Pretreatment with indicaxanthin at 2 μmol/kg inhibited the carrageenin-induced release of PGE(2) (91.4%), NO (67.7%), IL-1β (53.6%), and TNF-α (71.1%), and caused a decrease of IL-1β (34.5%), TNF-α (81.6%), iNOS (75.2%), and COX2 (87.7%) mRNA, as well as iNOS (71.9%) and COX-2 (65.9%) protein expression, in the recruited leukocytes. Indicaxanthin inhibited time- and dose- dependently the activation of NF-κB, a key transcription factor in the whole inflammatory cascade. A pharmacokinetic study with a single 2 μmol/kg oral administration showed a maximum 0.22 ± 0.02 μmol/L (n = 15) plasma concentration of indicaxanthin, with a half-life of 1.15 ± 0.11 h. When considering the high bioavailability of indicaxanthin in humans, our findings suggest that this dietary pigment has the potential to improve health and prevent inflammation-based disorders.

• Authors: Mario Allegra, Angela Ianaro, Mariaroberta Tersigni, Elisabetta Panza, Luisa Tesoriere, Maria Antonia Livrea
• Journal: The Journal of nutrition (J Nutr) Vol. 144 Issue 2 Pg. 185-92 (Feb 2014) ISSN: 1541-6100 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24306215 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Betaxanthins
• Inflammation Mediators
• Plant Extracts
• Pyridines
• RNA, Messenger
• indicaxanthin
• Carrageenan

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Betaxanthins (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Carrageenan
• Disease Models, Animal
• Fruit (chemistry)
• Inflammation (chemically induced, diet therapy, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Inflammation Mediators (metabolism)
• Leukocytes (metabolism)
• Male
• Opuntia (chemistry)
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Pleural Cavity (drug effects, metabolism)
• Pleurisy (chemically induced, diet therapy, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Pyridines (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar