Inflammation, although first characterized by Cornelius Celsus, a physician in first Century Rome, it was Rudolf Virchow, a German physician in nineteenth century who suggested a link between inflammation and cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, pulmonary diseases, neurological diseases and other chronic diseases. Extensive research within last three decades has confirmed these observations and identified the molecular basis for most chronic diseases and for the associated inflammation. The transcription factor, Nuclear Factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) that controls over 500 different gene products, has emerged as major mediator of inflammation. Thus agents that can inhibit NF-kappaB and diminish chronic inflammation have potential to prevent or delay the onset of the chronic diseases and further even treat them. In an attempt to identify novel anti-inflammatory agents which are safe and effective, in contrast to high throughput screen, we have turned to "reverse pharmacology" or "bed to benchside" approach. We found that Ayurveda, a science of long life, almost 6,000 years old, can serve as a "goldmine" for novel anti-inflammatory agents used for centuries to treat chronic diseases. The current review is an attempt to provide description of various Ayurvedic plants currently used for treatment, their active chemical components, and the inflammatory pathways that they inhibit.

Identification of Novel Anti-inflammatory Agents from Ayurvedic Medicine for Prevention of Chronic Diseases: “Reverse Pharmacology” and “Bedside to Bench” Approach

Two pentacyclic triterpenoids, betulinic acid (3beta-hydroxylup-20-(29)-en-28-oic acid) (3), and ursolic acid (2beta-hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid) (4), were isolated for the first time from leaves of Vitex negundo L. along with three other compounds; an aliphatic alcohol n-hentriacontanol (1), beta-sitosterol (2) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (5). Their antifeedant activity against the larvae of an agricultural pest, the castor semilooper (Achoea janata), in a no-choice laboratory assay and their antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, by the paper disc method, were tested. Ursolic acid (4) showed more effective antifeedant activity than the betulinic acid (3). However, both these compounds have shown a very mild antibacterial activity. The other three compounds; n-hentriacontanol (1), beta-sitosterol (2) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (5) have shown a little antifeedant activity against the larvae and did not show any antibacterial activity.

Isolation, characterization and biological activity of betulinic acid and ursolic acid from Vitex negundo L.

Xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of some Indian medical plants

Biological activities of crude plant extracts from Vitex trifolia L. (Verbenaceae).

New antifungal flavonoid glycoside from Vitex negundo.

The CHCl3 extract of the defatted seeds of Vitex negundo exhibited anti-inflammatory activity and yielded four triterpenoids: 3 beta-acetoxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid [1], 2 alpha, 3 alpha-dihydroxyoleana-5,12-dien-28-oic acid [2], 2 beta,3 alpha-diacetoxyoleana-5,12-dien-28-oic acid [3], and 2 alpha,3 beta-diacetoxy-18-hydroxyoleana-5,12-dien-28-oic acid [5]. This is the first report of the isolation of compounds 2, 3, and 5 from a natural source.

Abhishek Sharma

Papers

Chemical investigation and anti-inflammatory activity of Vitex negundo seeds.