β-Amyrin is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid compound that possesses anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities[1-2]. β-Amyrin can be used in research related to Alzheimer's disease, cancer, obesity, atherosclerosis, and type II diabetes[3-4].
In vitro, Hep-G2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells were treated with β-Amyrin (0-100μM) for 24 hours. β-Amyrin significantly induced apoptosis and caused cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, while simultaneously activating the JNK and p38 signaling pathways[5]. Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells were treated with β-Amyrin (5μM) for 2 hours. β-Amyrin induced apoptosis-like death in the cells by triggering the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione dysfunction, which led to cell membrane depolarization, resulting in DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine externalization[6].
In vivo, an amyloid-β (Aβ)-injected Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse model was orally administered β-Amyrin (4mg/kg) daily from day 1 to day 5 after Aβ (0.5mg; 35-40μl; or 1mg; 70-80μl) injection. β-Amyrin significantly ameliorated the Aβ-induced impairments in object recognition memory and passive avoidance memory[7]. ICR mice with scopolamine-induced memory impairment were orally administered β-Amyrin (4mg/kg) 60 minutes before training. β-Amyrin significantly ameliorated the scopolamine-induced memory impairment in the passive avoidance task[8].
References:
[1] Viet TD, Xuan TD, Anh H. α-Amyrin and β-Amyrin Isolated from Celastrus hindsii Leaves and Their Antioxidant, Anti-Xanthine Oxidase, and Anti-Tyrosinase Potentials. Molecules. 2021 Nov 29;26(23):7248.
[2] Kwun MS, Lee HJ, Lee DG. β-amyrin-induced apoptosis in Candida albicans triggered by calcium. Fungal Biol. 2021 Aug;125(8):630-636.
[3] Oliveira RC, Bandeira PN, Lemos TLG, et al. In silico and in vitro evaluation of efflux pumps inhibition of α,β-amyrin. J Biomol Struct Dyn. 2022;40(23):12785-12799.
[4] Mus AA, Goh LPW, Marbawi H, et al. The Biosynthesis and Medicinal Properties of Taraxerol. Biomedicines. 2022 Mar 30;10(4):807.
[5] Wen S, Gu D, Zeng H. Antitumor effects of beta-amyrin in Hep-G2 liver carcinoma cells are mediated via apoptosis induction, cell cycle disruption and activation of JNK and P38 signalling pathways. J BUON. 2018 Jul-Aug;23(4):965-970.
[6] Han G, Lee DG. Antibacterial Mode of Action of β-Amyrin Promotes Apoptosis-Like Death in Escherichia coli by Producing Reactive Oxygen Species. J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2022 Dec 28;32(12):1547-1552.
[7] Park HJ, Kwon H, Lee JH, et al. β-Amyrin Ameliorates Alzheimer's Disease-Like Aberrant Synaptic Plasticity in the Mouse Hippocampus. Biomol Ther (Seoul). 2020 Jan 1;28(1):74-82.
[8] Park SJ, Ahn YJ, Oh SR, et al. Amyrin attenuates scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment in mice. Biol Pharm Bull. 2014;37(7):1207-13.