Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hyaluronidase and collagenase inhibitory activities of the herbal formulation Triphala guggulu

  • Published:
Journal of Biosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Myrrh (guggulu) oleoresin from the Commiphora mukul tree is an important component of antiarthritic drugs in Ayurvedic medicine. Clinical data suggest that elevated levels of hyaluronidase and collagenase type 2 enzymes contribute significantly to cartilage degradation. Triphala guggulu (TG) is a guggulu-based formulation used for the treatment of arthritis. We assessed the chondroprotective potential of TG by examining its effects on the activities of pure hyaluronidase and collagenase type 2 enzymes. Triphala shodith guggulu (TSG), an intermediate in the production of TG, was also examined. A spectrophotometric method was used to assay Hyaluronidase activity, and to detect potential Hyaluronidase inhibitors. Aqueous and hydro-alcoholic extracts of TSG showed weak but dose-dependent inhibition of hyaluronidase activity. In contrast, the TG formulation was 50 times more potent than the TSG extract with respect to hyaluronidase inhibitory activity. A validated X-ray film-based assay was used to measure the gelatinase activity of pure collagenase type 2. Hydro-alcoholic extracts of the TG formulation were 4 times more potent than TSG with respect to collagenase inhibitory activity. Components of Triphala were also evaluated for their inhibitory activities on hyaluronidase and collagenase. This is the first report to show that the T2 component of Triphala (T. chebula) is a highly potent hyaluronidase and collagenase inhibitor. Thus, the TG formulation inhibits two major enzymes that can degrade cartilage matrix. Our study provides the first in vitro preclinical evidence of the chondroprotective properties of TG.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ADAMTS:

disintegrin containing metalloproteinases with thrombospondin motifs

HA:

hyaluronic acid

HPTLC:

high-performance thin layer chromatography

MMP:

matrix metalloproteinase

OA:

osteoarthritis

TG:

Triphala guggulu

TSG:

Triphala shodith guggulu

References

  • Abraham S, Kumar M S, Sehgal P K, Nitish S and Jayakumar N D 2005 Evaluation of the inhibitory effect of triphala on PMN-type matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9); J. Periodontol. 76 497–502

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arora R B, Kapoor V, Gupta S K and Sharma R C 1971 Isolation of a crystalline steroidal compound from Commiphora mukul and its anti-inflammatory activity; Indian J. Exp. Biol. 9 403–404

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Banerjee P 2002 Quality control of herbal drugs (New Delhi: Business Horizons) pp 723–725

    Google Scholar 

  • Chunekar K C and Pandeya G S 1995 Bhavaprakashnighantu 10th edition (Varanasi: Chaukhabha Bharati Academy) p. 206

    Google Scholar 

  • Demeule M, Brossard M, Page M et al 2000 Matrix metalloproteinase inhibition by green tea catechins; Biochem. Biophys. Acta 1478 51–60

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Girish K S and Kemparaju K 2005 Inhibition of Naja naja venom hyaluronidase by plant derived bioactive components and polysaccharides; Biochemistry (Mosc) 70 948–952

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans C H 1991 The role of proteinases in cartilage destruction; Agents Actions Suppl. 32 135–152

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harsulkar A M, Giri A P, Gupta V S, Sainani M N, Deshpande V V, Patankar A G and Ranjekar P K 1998 Characterization of Helicoverpa armigera gut proteinases and their interaction with proteinase inhibitors using gel X-ray film contact print technique; Electrophoresis 19 1397–1402

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Indian herbal Pharmacopeia Revised edn. 2002 (Mumbai: Indian Drug Manufacturers Association) pp 493–496

  • Jagetia G S, Rao S K, Baliga M S and Babu K 2004 The evaluation of nitric oxide scavenging activity of certain herbal formulations in vitro: a preliminary study; Phytother. Res. 18 561–565

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marquina M A, Coroa G M, Araujo L, Buitrago D and Sosa M 2002 Hyaluronidase inhibitory activity from the polyphenols in the fruit of blackberry (Rubus fruticosus B); Fitoterapia 73 727–729

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy G and Lee M H 2005 What are the roles of matrixmetalloproteinases in cartilage and bone repair?; Ann. Rheum. Dis. 64 44–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pavelka K, Forejtova S and Olejarova M 2004 Hyaluronic acid levels may have predictive value for the progression of knee osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis Cartilage 21 277–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porter S, Clark I M, Kevorkian L and Edwards D R 2005 The ADAMTS metalloproteinases; Biochem J. 386 15–27

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pelletier J P and Martel-Pelletier J 1993 Effects of nimesulide and naproxen on the degradation and metalloprotease synthesis of human osteoarthritic cartilage; Drugs (Suppl. 1) 46 134–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaha N C 1985 The encyclopedia of ayurvedic formulations (New Delhi: B Jain Publishers) Vol 2, pp 360–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh B B, Mishra L C, Vinjamury S P, Aquilina N, Singh V J and Shepard N 2003 The effectiveness of Commiphora mukul for osteoarthritis of the knee: an outcomes study; Altern. Ther. Health Med. 9 74–79

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith G N Jr, Yu L P Jr, Brandt K D and Capello W N 1998 Oral administration of doxycycline reduces collagenase and gelatinase activities in extracts of human osteoarthritic cartilage; J. Rheumatol. 25 532–535

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stenman M, Ainola M, Valmu L, Bjartell A, Guofeng M, Stenman U-H et al 2005 Trypsin-2 degrades type 2 collagen and is expressed and activated in mesenchymally transformed rheumatoid arthritis synovitis tissue; Am. J. Pathol. 167 1119–1124.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sumantran V N, Kulkarni A, Boddul S, Chinchwade T, Harsulkar A, Patwardhan B, Chopra A and Wagh U V 2007 Chondroprotective potential of root extracts of Withania somnifera in osteoarthritis; J. Biosci. 32 299–307

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Svoboda R E 1992 Ayurvedic life health and longevity 1st edition (New Delhi: Penguin Books) p 221, 258–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka N, Sakahashi H, Sato F, Hirose K, Ishima T and Ishi S 2002 Intra-articular injection of high molecular weight hyaluronan after arthrocentesis as treatment for rheumatoid knees with joint effusion; Rheumatol. Int. 4 151–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tung J S, Mark G E and Hollis G F 1994 A microplate assay for hyaluronidase and hyaluronidase inhibitors; Anal. Biochem. 223 149–152

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Interactive Research School for Health Affairs (IRSHA), Bhartiya Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College Campus, Dhankawadi, Pune, 411 043, India

    Venil N. Sumantran, Asavari A. Kulkarni, Abhay Harsulkar, Soumya J. Koppikar, Rucha Chandwaskar & Ulhas V. Wagh

  2. Department of Ayurvedic Studies, Bhartiya Vidyapeeth Deemed University Medical College Campus, Dhankawadi, Pune, 411 043, India

    Asmita Wele, Vishakha Gaire & Madhuri Dalvi

Authors
  1. Venil N. Sumantran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Asavari A. Kulkarni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Abhay Harsulkar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Asmita Wele
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Soumya J. Koppikar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Rucha Chandwaskar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Vishakha Gaire
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Madhuri Dalvi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Ulhas V. Wagh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Venil N. Sumantran.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sumantran, V.N., Kulkarni, A.A., Harsulkar, A. et al. Hyaluronidase and collagenase inhibitory activities of the herbal formulation Triphala guggulu . J Biosci 32, 755–761 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-007-0075-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-007-0075-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation