Steroidal saponin from Agave marmorata Roezl modulates inflammatory response by inhibiting NF-κB and AP-1

Abstract

Agave marmorata Roezl is an endemic succulent specie from the Oaxaca-Puebla area of Mexico. This plant is a medicinal recourse and contain a rich variety of saponins-type compounds with multiples biological effects. Some of them have been shown to be anticancer, antibacterial, or having anti-inflammatory and immunoregulation effects. This paper is the first scientific report to describe the pharmacological activity and chemistry of the saponin smilagenin-3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→2)-β-D-galactopyranoside] (1), isolated from Agave marmorata Roezl. Saponin (1) displayed immunomodulating activity when assayed on cultured macrophages. It inhibits NO production (EC₅₀ = 5.6 mg/ml, E_max = 101%), as well as NF-κB expression (EC₅₀ = 0.086 mg/ml, E_max = 90%). Using bioinformatic molecular docking, we identified a new smilagenin- PI3K kinase interaction site.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Agave marmorata Roezl
• Anti-inflammatory activity
• (25R)-3β-hydroxy-5β-spirostane 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl (1→2)-β-D-galactopyranoside]

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

PhD. Abisaí García from Instituto de Ecología UNAM, for the identification the species. CONACYT for scholarship (J.C.A.) 267187. Laboratorio Nacional de Supercómputo del Sureste de México (LNS).