Tormentic Acid

Tormentic acid is a triterpene that has been found in P. frutescens and has diverse biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidative, and antidiabetic properties.^1,2,3 It reduces hydrogen peroxide-induced increases in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NADPH oxidase (NOX1), as well as the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (RVSMCs) when used at concentrations of 12.5, 25, and 50 µM.² Tormentic acid (25 and 50 µM) decreases hydrogen peroxide-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in RVSMCs. It reduces ear edema induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA; Item No. 10008014) in mice (ID₅₀ = 0.03 mg/ear).¹ Topical application of tormentic acid (1.7 nmol) reduces the number of papillomas formed per mouse in a DMBA-TPA two-stage model of mouse skin carcinogenesis. It also reduces increases in blood glucose, insulin, and leptin levels, as well as hepatic triglyceride levels, in mice fed a high-fat diet in a model of diabetes and hyperlipidemia when administered at doses of 60 and 120 mg/kg per day.³

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1. Banno, N., Akihisa, T., Tokuda, H., et al. Triterpene acids from the leaves of Perilla frutescens and their anti-inflammatory and antitumor-promoting effects. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 68(1), 85-90 (2004).

2. Wang, Y.-L., Sun, G.-Y., Zhang, Y., et al. Tormentic acid inhibits H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in rat vascular smooth muscle cells via inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Mol. Med. Rep. 14(4), 3559-3564 (2016).

3. Wu, J.-B., Kuo, Y.-H., Lin, C.-H., et al. Tormentic acid, a major component of suspension cells of Eriobotrya japonica, suppresses high-fat diet-induced diabetes and hyperlipidemia by glucose transporter 4 and AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation. J. Agric. Food Chem. 62(44), 10717-10726 (2014).