p38 MAPK

Two human breast cancer cell lines were exposed to asiatic acid, which inhibited cell growth in a concentration-dependent manner, with MCF-7 being more susceptible than MDA-MB-231. For MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, asiatic acid's IC50 values were 5.95 M and 8.12 M, respectively.

ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK Kinase Activity Assays, as well as Immunoprecipitation/Immunoblot. When MAPK inhibitors were present or absent, cells were exposed to 10 μM asiatic acid for the allotted amount of time. Apoptosis assay kit made by BioVision Inc., Mountain View, California, was used to separate the mitochondrial and cytoplasmic fractions. In order to prepare the cells for immunoblotting, they were lysed on ice for 40 minutes in a solution containing 50 mM Tris, 1% Triton X-100, 0.1% SDS, 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM Na3VO4, 2 mM EGTA, 12 mM β-glycerol phosphate, 10 mM NaF, and 16 μg/ml benzamidine hydrochloride, 10 μg/ml phenanthroline, 10 μg/ml aprotinin, 10 μg/ml leupeptin, 10 μg/ml pepstatin, and 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride. The supernatant fraction from the 15-minute 14,000g centrifugation of the cell lysate was used for immunoblotting. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to resolve equivalent amounts of protein (10–12%), which were then transferred to polyvinylidene difluoride membranes. The membrane was incubated with the desired primary antibody for 1 to 16 hours after blocking for 1 h in 5% nonfat dry milk in Tris-buffered saline. After applying the proper peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody to the membrane, as directed by the manufacturer, the immunoreactive proteins were found using an enhanced chemiluminescence kit from Amersham Biosciences Inc., Piscataway, NJ.

The sodium 3′-[1-(phenylamino-carbonyl)-3,4-tetrazolium]-bis(4-methoxy-6-nitro)benzene-sulfonic acid hydrate (XTT) assay was used to determine how much asiatic acid inhibited cell proliferation. In 96-well culture plates, cells were plated at a density of 1 × 104 per well. The cells were exposed to asiatic acid (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 μM) for 48 hours after a 24-hour incubation period. Each well was then filled with 50 microliters of the XTT test solution, which was created by combining 5 ml of the XTT-labeling reagent with 100 μl of the electron coupling reagent. At a test wavelength of 492 nm and a reference wavelength of 690 nm, absorbance was measured using an ELISA reader (Multiskan EX; Labsystem, Helsinki, Finland) after a 4-h incubation. The formula inhibition % = [100 - (ODt/ODs) × 100] was used to calculate data as the percentage of inhibition. The optical densities of the test substances and the solvent control were indicated, respectively, by ODt and ODs. Based on 48-h absorbance values, the concentration of test substances that cause 50% cellular cytotoxicity of cancer cells (IC50) was determined.

Absorption, Distribution and Excretion
A new HPLC assay method was used to investigate the pharmacokinetics of asiatic acid after oral administration of the total triterpenic fraction of Centella asiatica in single doses (30 or 60 mg) and after a 7-day treatment (30 or 60 mg twice daily). Twelve healthy volunteers received each treatment following a randomized cross-over design with trials separated by a 3-week interval. The time of peak plasma concentration was not affected by dosage difference or by treatment scheme. Differences in peak plasma concentration and area under the concentration vs. time curve from 0 to 24 hr (AUC0-24) calculated after 30 or 60 mg administration (single dose) were accounted for by the different dose regimen. However, after chronic treatment with both 30 and 60 mg, peak plasma concentrations, AUC0-24 and half-life were significantly higher than those observed after the corresponding single dose administration. This phenomenon could be explained by a metabolic interaction between asiatic acid and asiaticoside, which is transformed into asiatic acid in vivo.
The comparative steady-state bioavailability of asiatic acid was studied in 12 healthy male and female volunteers following oral administration of approximately equimolar doses of either asiatic acid (12 mg) or the glycoside derivative of asiatic acid, asiaticoside (24 mg). Both asiatic acid and asiaticoside are constituents of the marketed dermatological product Madecassol. Asiaticoside is converted in vivo to asiatic acid by hydrolytic cleavage of the sugar moiety. Steady-state AUC0-12hr values for asiatic acid on either regimen were similar (614 +/- 250 ng.hr/mL following asiatic acid compared to 606 +/- 316 ng.hr/mL following asiaticoside) indicating comparable bioavailability for asiatic acid with the two ingredients at approximately equimolar doses. Since asiatic acid is considered to be the most therapeutically active ingredient of Madecassol, the current data suggest that the therapeutic effects of asiaticoside may be mediated through conversion to asiatic acid.

Interactions
Asiatic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene contained in medicinal plants. The cytotoxic effect of this compound and its augmentative effect on the anticancer drug irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT-11) were investigated in the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29. Asiatic acid dose-dependently showed cytotoxicity in HT-29 cells. DNA fragmentation, annexin-positive apoptotic cells, and caspase-3 activation were observed in a dose-dependent manner. A caspase-3 inhibitor suppressed the DNA ladder formation in a concentration-dependent manner. Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL proteins were decreased by asiatic acid treatment. These results indicate that asiatic acid induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells via caspase-3 activation. Cytotoxic effects of combined treatment with CPT-11 and asiatic acid on HT-29 cells were further examined. Simultaneous treatment or sequential exposure first to asiatic acid and then to CPT-11 showed an additive effect. Synergism was observed when cells were first exposed to CPT-11 and then to asiatic acid. These results suggest that asiatic acid can be used as an agent for increasing sensitivity of colon cancer cells to treatment with CPT-11 or as an agent for reducing adverse effects of CPT-11.
Asiatic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene, has been reported to induce apoptosis of various human cancer cells. In the present study, we assessed the anti-tumor promoting effect of asiatic acid against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-mediated skin tumorigenesis in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-initiated ICR mice. Topical application of asiatic acid prior to each application of TPA resulted in a significant reduction in skin tumor formation. We also found that pre-application of asiatic acid alleviated TPA-induced [3H]thymidine incorporation, which is a conventional marker for skin tumor promotion. In addition, asiatic acid inhibited the TPA-induced generation of nitric oxide (NO) and expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which are known to play important roles in tumor growth, especially in the promotion stage. In addition, topical application of aminoguanidine (AG), a selective iNOS inhibitor, and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (NAME), another iNOS inhibitor, 30 min prior to TPA treatment significantly inhibited the TPA-induced COX-2 expression. These results suggest that asiatic acid may exert anti-tumorigenesis through inhibitory actions in NO and COX-2 signals.
Asiatic acid and corosolic acid are two natural products identified as biofilm inhibitors in a biofilm inhibition assay. We evaluated the activities of these two compounds on Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms grown in rotating disk reactors (RDRs) in combination with tobramycin and ciprofloxacin. To determine the ruggedness of our systems, the antibiotic susceptibilities of these biofilms were assessed with tobramycin and ciprofloxacin. The biofilm bacteria produced in the RDR were shown to display remarkable tolerance to 10 mug/ml of ciprofloxacin, thus mimicking the tolerance observed in recalcitrant bacterial infections. These studies further demonstrate that a nonmucoid strain of P. aeruginosa can form a biofilm that tolerates ciprofloxacin at clinically relevant concentrations. Neither asiatic acid nor corosolic acid reduced the viable cell density of P. aeruginosa biofilms. However, both compounds increased the susceptibility of biofilm bacteria to subsequent treatment with tobramycin, suggesting asiatic acid and corosolic acid to be compounds that potentiate the activity of antibiotics. A similar statistical interaction was observed between ciprofloxacin and subsequent treatment with tobramycin.
...The protective effects and mechanism of triterpenoids on primarily cultured rat hepatocytes injured by D-galactosamine (D-GalN) or carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) /were investigated/. Rat hepatocytes were isolated by two-step collagenase perfusion and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium. Protective effects of asiatic acid (AA) and beta-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) were evaluated on hepatocytes injured by D-GalN (2 mmol/L) or CCl4 (10 mmol/L). Cell morphology was observed by light microscope, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, AST and LDH were determined by an automatic analyzer. Fluorescence assay was applied to test reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide end products (NOx) and reduced glutathione (GSH), and JC-1 staining was used to determine mitochondria membrane potential (DeltaPsim). AST and LDH in medium were decreased when treated with AA and GA after D-GalN injury (P<0.05), furthermore AA enhanced the hepatocyte viability (P<0.05). Moreover, AA and GA significantly reduced ROS and NOx generation, and ameliorated DeltaPsim lost induced by D-GalN. AA also inhibited GSH decrease due to D-GalN and CCl4 treatment. Both AA and GA could protect hepatocytes from D-GalN and CCl4 injuries, which is associated with reducing intracellular ROS and NOx, reversing GSH depression and ameliorating DeltaPsim lost.
A new coumaroyl triterpene, 3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl actinidic acid (1), as well as five known triterpenes, ursolic acid (2), 23-hydroxyursolic acid (3), corosolic acid (4), asiatic acid (5) and betulinic acid (6) were isolated from an EtOAc-soluble extract of the roots of Actinidia arguta. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated from interpretation of the spectroscopic data, particularly by extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies. All the isolates (1-6) were evaluated in vitro for their inhibitory activities on pancreatic lipase (PL). Of the isolates, the new compound 1 possessed the highest inhibitory activity on PL, with an IC(50) of 14.95 microM, followed by ursolic acid (2, IC(50) = 15.83 microM). The other four triterpenes (3-6) also showed significant PL inhibitory activity, with IC(50) values ranging from 20.42 to 76.45 microM.

[1]. J Pharmacol Exp Ther . 2005 Apr;313(1):333-44.

Therapeutic Uses
Titrated extract of Centella asiatica (TECA) contains three principal ingredients, asiaticoside (AS), asiatic acid (AA), and madecassic acid (MA). These components are known to be clinically effective on systemic scleroderma, abnormal scar formation, and keloids. ...
/EXPL THER/ Asiatic acid, a triterpene of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban (Umbelliferae), has been patented as a treatment for dementia and an enhancer of cognition by the Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft.
/EXPL/ Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with a prevalence of 1-2% in people over the age of 50. Mitochondrial dysfunction occurred in PD patients showing a 15-30% loss of activity in complex I. Asiatic acid (AA), a triterpenoid, is an antioxidant and used for depression treatment, but the effect of AA against PD-like damage has never been reported. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of AA against H(2)O(2) or rotenone-induced cellular injury and mitochondrial dysfunction in SH-SY5Y cells. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the expression of voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) were detected with or without AA pretreatment following cellular injury to address the possible mechanisms of AA neuroprotection. The results showed that pre-treatment of AA (0.01-100 nM) protected cells against the toxicity induced by rotenone or H(2)O(2). In addition, MMP dissipation occurred following the exposure of rotenone, which could be prevented by AA treatment. More interestingly, pre-administration of AA inhibited the elevation of VDAC mRNA and protein levels induced by rotenone(100 nM) or H(2)O(2) (300 muM).These data indicate that AA could protect neuronal cells against mitochondrial dysfunctional injury and suggest that AA might be developed as an agent for PD prevention or therapy.
/EXPL/ Asiaticoside (AS) derivatives were tested for potential protective effects against Abeta-induced cell death. Of the 28 AS derivatives tested, asiatic acid (AA), asiaticoside 6 (AS6), and SM2 showed strong inhibition of Abeta-induced death of B103 cells at 1 microM. The three AS derivatives were further tested for their effects on free radical injury and apoptosis. All three AS derivatives reduced H(2)O(2)-induced cell death and lowered intracellular free radical concentration, but AA showed the strongest protection. In contrast, SM2 was the most effective blocker of staurosporine-induced apoptosis. These results suggest that the three AS derivatives block Abeta toxicity by acting through different cellular mechanisms. When applied to hippocampal slices, AA, SM2, and AS6 did not alter n-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) or non-NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission, paired-pulse facilitation or induction of long-term potentiation in the field CA1. These results indicate that the three AS derivatives do not alter physiological properties of the hippocampus at the concentration that blocks Abeta-induced cell death. Therefore AS6, AA, and SM2 can be regarded as reasonable candidates for a therapeutic Alzheimer's disease drug that protects neurons from Abeta toxicity.
For more Therapeutic Uses (Complete) data for ASIATIC ACID (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

C30H48O5

488.70

488.35

C, 73.73; H, 9.90; O, 16.37

464-92-6

119034

Solid powder

1.2±0.1 g/cm3

609.4±55.0 °C at 760 mmHg

325-330 °C(lit.)

336.4±28.0 °C

0.0±4.0 mmHg at 25°C

1.579

6.46

4

5

2

35

930

12

O([H])[C@@]1([H])[C@@]([H])(C([H])([H])[C@@]2(C([H])([H])[H])[C@]([H])([C@]1(C([H])([H])[H])C([H])([H])O[H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])[C@@]1(C([H])([H])[H])[C@]3(C([H])([H])[H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])[C@@]4(C(=O)O[H])C([H])([H])C([H])([H])[C@@]([H])(C([H])([H])[H])[C@]([H])(C([H])([H])[H])[C@@]4([H])C3=C([H])C([H])([H])[C@@]12[H])O[H]

JXSVIVRDWWRQRT-UYDOISQJSA-N

InChI=1S/C30H48O5/c1-17-9-12-30(25(34)35)14-13-28(5)19(23(30)18(17)2)7-8-22-26(3)15-20(32)24(33)27(4,16-31)21(26)10-11-29(22,28)6/h7,17-18,20-24,31-33H,8-16H2,1-6H3,(H,34,35)/t17-,18+,20-,21-,22-,23+,24+,26+,27+,28-,29-,30+/m1/s1

(1S,2R,4aS,6aR,6aS,6bR,8aR,9R,10R,11R,12aR,14bS)-10,11-dihydroxy-9-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,6a,6b,9,12a-hexamethyl-2,3,4,5,6,6a,7,8,8a,10,11,12,13,14b-tetradecahydro-1H-picene-4a-carboxylic acid

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Note: This product requires protection from light (avoid light exposure) during transportation and storage.

Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

Solubility in Formulation 1: ≥ 2.25 mg/mL (4.60 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 40% PEG300 + 5% Tween80 + 45% Saline (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 22.5 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 400 μL PEG300 and mix evenly; then add 50 μL Tween-80 to the above solution and mix evenly; then add 450 μL normal saline to adjust the volume to 1 mL.
Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH₂ O to obtain a clear solution.

---

Solubility in Formulation 2: 2.08 mg/mL (4.26 mM) in 10% DMSO + 90% (20% SBE-β-CD in Saline) (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), suspension solution; with ultrasonication.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 20.8 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of 20% SBE-β-CD physiological saline solution and mix evenly.
Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution.

---

View More

Solubility in Formulation 3: ≥ 2.08 mg/mL (4.26 mM) (saturation unknown) in 10% DMSO + 90% Corn Oil (add these co-solvents sequentially from left to right, and one by one), clear solution.
For example, if 1 mL of working solution is to be prepared, you can add 100 μL of 20.8 mg/mL clear DMSO stock solution to 900 μL of corn oil and mix evenly.

---

 (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)