Chebulagic acid is a polyphenol and tannin that has been found in T. chebula and has diverse biological activities.1,2,3,4,5 It is an inhibitor of COX-1, COX-2, and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO; IC50s = 15, 0.92, and 2.1 μM, respectively) as well as α-glucosidase and 15-LO (IC50s = 0.05 and 24.9 μM, respectively).1,2 Chebulagic acid inhibits LPS-induced increases in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LO protein levels, production of NO, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nuclear translocation of NF-κB in RAW 264.7 macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner.3 It inhibits the growth of HCT15, COLO 205, MDA-MB-231, DU145, and K562 cancer cells (GI50s = 20.3, 18, 26.2, 28.54, and 30.66 μM, respectively).1 Chebulagic acid increases insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by 10.2-, 13.8-, and 16.6-fold when used at concentrations of 10, 50, and 100 μM, respectively.4 It also scavenges 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals (IC50 = 1.4 μM) and exhibits antiviral activity against cytomegalovirus, hepatitis C virus, dengue virus, measles virus, and respiratory syncytial virus in vitro (EC50s = 25.5, 12.16, 13.11, 34.42, and 0.38 μM, respectively).1,5
1.Reddy, D.B., Reddy, T.C., Jyotsna, G., et al.Chebulagic acid, a COX-LOX dual inhibitor isolated from the fruits of Terminalia chebula retz., induces apoptosis in COLO-205 cell lineJ. Ethnopharmacol.124(3)506-512(2009) 2.Pham, A.T., Malterud, K.E., Paulsen, B.S., et al.α-Glucosidase inhibition, 15-lipoxygenase inhibition, and brine shrimp toxicity of extracts and isolated compounds from Terminalia macroptera leavesPharm. Biol.52(9)1166-1169(2014) 3.Reddy, D.B., and Reddanna, P.Chebulagic acid (CA) attenuates LPS-induced inflammation by suppressing NF-κB and MAPK activation in RAW 264.7 macrophagesBiochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.381(1)112-117(2009) 4.Shyni, G.L., Kavitha, S., Indu, S., et al.Chebulagic acid from Terminalia chebula enhances insulin mediated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes via PPARγ signaling pathwayBiofactors40(6)646-657(2014) 5.Lin, L.T., Chen, T.Y., Lin, S.C., et al.Broad-spectrum antiviral activity of chebulagic acid and punicalagin against viruses that use glycosaminoglycans for entryBMC Microbiol.13187(2013)