Tumulosic acid is a triterpene that has been found in Poria cocos and has diverse biological activities.1,2,3,4 It inhibits DNA topoisomerase I and II by 83.3 and 75.5%, respectively, when used at a concentration of 100 µM.1 Tumulosic acid also inhibits kallikrein 5 and trypsin but not kallikrein 7 or chymotrypsin C (IC50s = 14.8, 45.3, >100, and >100 µM for the human enzymes, respectively).2 It inhibits LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production (IC50 = 42.5 µM) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) transcriptional activity in RAW 264.7 macrophages.3 Tumulosic acid (30 µg/ear) reduces ear edema induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate in mice.4
1.Gao, L., Xu, M.-L., Lee, C.-S., et al.Cytotoxicity and DNA topoisomerases inhibitory activity of constituents from the sclerotium of Poria cocosArch. Pharm. Res.27(8)829-833(2004) 2.Matsubara, Y., Matsumoto, T., Koseki, J., et al.Inhibition of human kallikrein 5 protease by triterpenoids from natural sourcesMolecules22(11)1829(2017) 3.Cai, T.-G., and Cai, Y.Triterpenes from the fungus Poria cocos and their inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production in mouse macrophages via blockade of activating protein-1 pathwayChem. Biodivers.8(11)2135-2143(2011) 4.Nukaya, H., Yamashiro, H., Fukazawa, H., et al.Isolation of inhibitors of TPA-induce mouse ear edema from Hoelen Poria cocosChem. Pharm. Bull. (Tokyo)44(4)847-849(1996)