Biomol Ther.  2015 Jul;23(4):345-349. 10.4062/biomolther.2015.019.

Anti-Influenza Activity of Betulinic Acid from Zizyphus jujuba on Influenza A/PR/8 Virus

• Hong EH
• Song JH
• Kang KB
• Sung SH
• Ko HJ
• Yang H

• KMID: 2382364
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4062/biomolther.2015.019

Abstract

Betulinic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene isolated from Jujube tree (Zizyphus jujuba Mill), has been known for a wide range of biological and medicinal properties such as antibacterial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, antihelmintic, antinociceptive, and anticancer activities. In the study, we investigated the antiviral activity on influenza A/PR/8 virus infected A549 human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line and C57BL/6 mice. Betulinic acid showed the anti-influenza viral activity at a concentration of 50 muM without a significant cytotoxicity in influenza A/PR/8 virus infected A549 cells. Also, betulinic acid significantly attenuated pulmonary pathology including increased necrosis, numbers of inflammatory cells and pulmonary edema induced by influenza A/PR/8 virus infection compared with vehicle- or oseltamivir-treated mice in vivo model. The down-regulation of IFN-gamma level, which is critical for innate and adaptive immunity in viral infection, after treating of betulinic acid in mouse lung. Based on the obtained results, it is suggested that betulinic acid can be the potential therapeutic agent for virus infection via anti-inflammatory activity.

Keyword

Betulinic acid; Zizyphus jujuba; Influenza A/PR/8; A549; Inflammation

MeSH Terms

Adaptive Immunity
Adenocarcinoma
Animals
Down-Regulation
Epithelial Cells
Humans
Inflammation
Influenza, Human*
Lung
Mice
Necrosis
Pathology
Pulmonary Edema
Trees
Ziziphus*