Anti-inflammatory potential of alpha-linolenic acid mediated through selective COX inhibition: computational and experimental data

Inflammation. 2014 Aug;37(4):1297-306. doi: 10.1007/s10753-014-9857-6.

Abstract

The present work investigates the anti-inflammatory activity of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA) using computational and experimental analysis. The binding affinity of ALA and LA was appraised for cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) using AutoDock 4.2 and AutoDock Vina 1.1.2. Anti-inflammatory activity of ALA (2 and 4 ml/kg, i.p.) (55.65 % v/v) and LA (2 and 4 ml/kg, i.p.) (55 % v/v) was further assayed using the rat paw edema test against a variety of phlogistic agents including carrageenan, arachidonic acid, prostaglandin, and leukotriene, respectively. ALA (2 and 4 ml/kg, i.p.) and LA (2 and 4 ml/kg, i.p.) were further tested for their efficacy against complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced (0.05 ml) arthritis in albino rats. Following CFA-induced arthritis, ALA and LA were tested for their inhibitory proficiency against COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX in vitro. The present study commends that the anti-inflammatory potential of ALA could be attributed to COX inhibition, in particular, COX-2.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry*
  • Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / metabolism*
  • Arachidonic Acid / chemistry
  • Arthritis / physiopathology
  • Carrageenan / chemistry
  • Cyclooxygenase 1 / metabolism*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism*
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Edema
  • Leukotrienes / chemistry
  • Lipoxygenase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Prostaglandins / chemistry
  • Protein Conformation
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • alpha-Linolenic Acid / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
  • Leukotrienes
  • Lipoxygenase Inhibitors
  • Prostaglandins
  • alpha-Linolenic Acid
  • Arachidonic Acid
  • Carrageenan
  • Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase
  • Cyclooxygenase 1
  • Cyclooxygenase 2