Anti-Inflammatory and PPAR Transactivational Effects of Oleanane-Type Triterpenoid Saponins from the Roots of Pulsatilla koreana

In this study, 23 oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins were isolated from a methanol extract of the roots of Pulsatilla koreana. The NF-κB inhibitory activity of the isolated compounds was measured in TNFα-treated HepG2 cells using a luciferase reporter system. Compounds 19–23 inhibited TNFα-stimulated NF-κB activation in a dose-dependent manner, with IC(50) values ranging from 0.75–8.30 μM. Compounds 19 and 20 also inhibited the TNFα-induced expression of iNOS and ICAM-1 mRNA. Moreover, effect of the isolated compounds on PPARs transcriptional activity was assessed. Compounds 7–11 and 19–23 activated PPARs the transcriptional activity significantly in a dose-dependent manner, with EC50 values ranging from 0.9–10.8 μM. These results suggest the presence of potent anti-inflammatory components in P. koreana, and will facilitate the development of novel anti-inflammatory agents.