The pentacyclic triterpene Lup-20(29)-en-3β-ol (Lupeol), a potent anti-inflammatory natural product, was able to switch macrophages from M1 to M2 phenotype.
Moreover, oral administration of Lupeol to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice resulted in mitigated intestinal inflammation and increased survival from lethal colitis, associated with decreased expression of M1-related genes and increased expression of M2-related genes in the lesion.
Our data suggest Lupeol ameliorates experimental IBD through, at least in part, inhibiting M1 and promoting M2 macrophages.
Considering the very low toxicity of Lupeol, we believe that these findings are significant.