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Inflammation is a primary response to infection that can pathologically lead to various diseases including neurodegenerative diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of β-Amyrin, a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid compound, on inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferone-γ (IFN-γ) in rat microglial cells.Cytotoxicity of β-Amyrin (3-100) μM on microglial cells was evaluated using the MTT assay. Also, the protective effect of various β-Amyrin (2-16 μM) concentrations with LPS/IFN-γ-induced mice microglial cells was studied. The concentrations of TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor-α), IL-1β (Interleukin-1β), IL-6 (Interleukin-6) and PGE-2 (Prostaglandin E2) were evaluated using ELISA. Gene expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, COX-2 (Cyclooxygenase-2), iNOS and arginase-1 were also evaluated using the Real-Time PCR method. Nitrite oxide and urea were measured using biochemical methods.The studied concentrations ​​of β-Amyrin had no significant effects on the viability of microglial cells. Interestingly, β-Amyrin concentration dependently and significantly increased the reduced cell proliferation concerning to LPS/IFN-γ exposure (p 0.001). The concentrations and expression levels of pro-inflammatory factors including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, PGE-2, COX-2 were significantly reduced after β-Amyrin treatment in LPS/IFN-γ-induced microglial cells (p 0.05-0.001). β-Amyrin also decreased the levels of nitric oxide, increased urea and down regulated the expression of nitric oxide synthesis while arginase-1 expression was enhanced (p 0.001). The ratio of NO/urea and iNOS/Arg1 were also markedly increased in comparison to the LPS/IFN-g group (p 0.001).β-Amyrin reduces inflammation in microglial cells and can be used as a potential anti-inflammatory agent in central nervous system neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer and multiple sclerosis, by affecting the inflammatory cytokine and differentiation of microglia as resident CNS macrophages.

Peritoneal adhesion is a major complication of surgery that can lead to serious problems such as bowel obstruction, pain, infertility and even mortality. Propolis is a honey bee product with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities that could potentially protect against adhesive surgical complications.Forty 8-weeks-old rats (275 ± 25 g) were divided into five groups: normal group without any surgical procedure, and experimental groups treated with normal saline, 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of propolis. Peritoneal adhesions were examined macroscopically and also, the levels of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α), growth factors (TGF-β1 and VEGF) were evaluated in the study groups using ELISA. Biochemical indices of oxidative status including Nitric Oxide (NO), Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Glutathione (GSH) were also measured.Peritoneal adhesion scores, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-β1, VEGF, NO, GSH and MDA levels were significantly different between the study groups (p 0.001). Propolis treatment reduced peritoneal adhesion (p 0.001), TNF-α (p 0.001), IL-1β (p 0.001), IL-6 (p 0.001), TGF-β1 (p 0.001), VEGF (p 0.001), NO (p 0.001) and MDA (p 0.001), while GSH levels were increased (p 0.001) compared with the vehicle group. Our results showed that higher dose of propolis was associated with significantly greater reductions in peritoneal adhesion (p 0.001), TNF-α (p 0.001), IL-1β (p 0.001), IL-6 (p 0.001), VEGF (p 0.001), NO (p 0.001) and MDA (p 0.001), a greater increase in GSH levels (p 0.001) compared with the lower dose.Propolis treatment can dose-dependently reduce peritoneal adhesion through its anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and antioxidant properties. Therefore, propolis might serve as a protective agent against post-surgical adhesive complications.