Characterization of anti-inflammatory triterpene acids from rose hip powder (Rosa canina L.)

The standardized rose hip powder LitoMove® (Rosa canina L.) is a widely used herbal remedy. Clinical trials have revealed that consumption of rose hip powder can reduce pain in patients suffering from osteoarthritis [1,2]. Synovial inflammation mainly mediated by macrophages has been reported to be involved in the pathology of osteoarthritis [3,4].

Therefore, the anti-inflammatory activity of crude extracts of standardized rose hip powder (LitoMove) was investigated and active principles isolated using the human monocytic cell line Mono Mac 6 as a model for inflammation. Incubation of Mono Mac 6 cells with a crude dichloromethane extract of rose hip powder significantly inhibited the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) release in a concentration dependent manner. Through bioassay-guided fractionation this anti-inflammatory effect was correlated to a mixture of three triterpene acids; oleanolic, betulinic and ursolic acid (IC50 21±6µM).

Investigation of the anti-inflammatory activity of each of the three triterpene acids revealed that oleanolic and ursolic acid was able to inhibit the LPS induced release of IL-6, in contrast to betulinic acid. Interestingly, combination of either oleanolic or ursolic acid with betulinic acid enhanced the anti-inflammatory effect of both oleanolic and ursolic acid.

Acknowledgements: Hyben Vital International ApS is thanked for financial support.

References: 1. Chrubasik, C. et al. (2006) Phytother. Res. 20:1.3.

2. Christensen, R. et al. (2008) Osteoarhritis Cartilage 16:965–972.

3. Farahat, M. et al (1993) Ann. Rheum. Dis. 52:870–875.

4. Bondeson, J. et al. (2006) Arthritis Res. Ther. 8:R187.