Effect of lupeol and lupeol linoleate on lysosomal enzymes and collagen in adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

Lysosomal enzymes play important roles in the inflammatory process. The pentacyclic triterpenes, lupeol and lupeol linoleate were administered orally (50 mg/kg) for 8 days to arthritic rats, after 11th day of adjuvant injection. The lysosomal enzymes were significantly increased in arthritic condition, which are involved in the destruction of structural macromolecules in connective tissue and cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis. Hence the level of collagen was significantly decreased and the excretion of urinary hydroxyproline, hexosamine, hexuronic acid and glycosaminoglycans were increased in arthritic rats. Treatment of arthritic rats with triterpenes reversed the above changes, which may be due to stabilization of the lysosomal membrane. Out of the two triterpenes tested, lupeol linoleate showed better ameliorating action than lupeol.