Precursor-feeding strategy on the triterpenoid production and anti-inflammatory activity of Antrodia cinnamomea

• Precursor-feeding strategy was used for production of triterpenoids in A. cinnamomea.
• Squalene-feeding increased 4,7-D, De-sul, 15α, and De-eb contents.
• Stigmasterol-feeding increased ZaA, 15α and De-eb contents.
• A. cinnamomea exhibit anti-inflammation by inhibiting NO production in BV-2 cells.
• A. cinnamomea inhibits significantly iNOS and COX-2 production.

Antrodia cinnamomea has commercially been used in the formulation of nutraceuticals and functional foods. A. cinnamomea was fed exogenous sterols including squalene, cholesterol, and stigmasterol to enhance its triterpenoid content. Four triterpenoids were identified in A. cinnamomea, namely dehydrosulphurenic acid (De-sul), zhankuic acid A (ZaA), 15α-acetyl-dehydrosulphurenic acid (15α) and dehydroeburicoic acid (De-eb), and one polyphenyl compound, 4,7-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,3-benzodioxole (4,7-D). Maximum ZaA and 15α contents of 2.84 and 48.07 μg/mg dry weight, respectively were achieved by 100 μM squalene-feeding, and maximum De-sul and De-eb contents of 69.08 and 47.91 μg/mg dry weight were achieved by 10 and 100 μM stigmasterol-feeding, respectively. To study the anti-inflammatory potential of A. cinnamomea, lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production, NADPH oxidase (NOX), inducible NO synthetase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in murine microglial cells, BV-2, were evaluated. ZaA and 50 μM squalene-feeding of A. cinnamomea inhibited LPS-induced NO, iNOS and COX-2 expression in BV-2 cells.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide