3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl esterification enhances the anti-inflammatory effects of tormentic acid by targeting NF-κB signaling.

ABSTRACT: Tormentic acid (TA), a plant-derived pentacyclic triterpene, exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, yet the pharmacological effects of its 3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl ester (trans-TACE) remain underexplored. This study investigates how hydroxycinnamoyl esterification influences the biological activity of pentacyclic triterpenes by comparing TA and trans-TACE in cellular and in vivo stress models. We assessed their ability to mitigate oxidative stress by evaluating the inhibition of ROS and NO molecules. Pro-inflammatory cytokine production in LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages was analyzed through cytokine arrays and multiplex immunoassays, while NF-κB activation was examined in both TLR4-dependent and -independent models using HEK-Blue reporter cells. Uptake efficiencies into Caco-

SUBMITTER: Heckmann M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12213276 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature