Alpha-humulene α-humulene

• CAS: 6753-98-6
• Catalog Number: ACM6753986-1
• Category: Alkanes
• Molecular Weight: 204.35
• Molecular Formula: C₇H₁₅Cl
• Hazard Statements: H302
• RIDADR: UN 3334
• Symbol: GHS07

Case Study

Study on the Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Effects of α-Humulene

Jang, Hye-In, et al. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 2020, 66(6), 389-399.

The sesquiterpenoid compound called α-humulene originates from plants belonging to the Humulus genus. The essential oils of Salvia officinalis and Mentha spicata along with those from the Zingiberaceae plant family serve as extraction sources for this compound. Studies demonstrate that α-humulene possesses both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial characteristics which may fight pathogens by exhibiting antibacterial and antibiofilm actions. This research evaluated α-humulene's antibacterial and antibiofilm capabilities against enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis which contributes to inflammatory bowel disease.
Key Findings
The evaluation revealed that α-humulene has a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and biofilm inhibitory concentration of 2 μg/mL for B. fragilis with biofilm eradication requiring dosages between 8 and 32 μg/mL. The XTT reduction assay revealed low cellular metabolic activity in the biofilm when concentration levels ranged from 8 to 16 μg/mL. The biofilm inhibitory properties of α-humulene were confirmed through confocal laser scanning microscopy. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis showed that α-humulene significantly decreased the expression levels of the multidrug efflux pump genes bmeB1 and bmeB3.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of α-Humulene in Experimental Model of Respiratory Allergic Inflammation

Rogerio, Alexandre P., et al. British journal of pharmacology, 2009, 158(4), 1074-1087.

α-Humulene is a natural plant compound belonging to sesquiterpenes that demonstrates powerful anti-inflammatory effects. This research assessed how α-humulene functions within a murine respiratory allergic inflammation experimental model. It was found that α-humulene may demonstrate significant anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing inflammatory mediators as well as adhesion molecule expression and transcription factor activation.
· Evaluation Methods
The study administered preventive (22 days) or therapeutic (days 18-22) α-humulene or trans-caryophyllene orally at 50 mg/kg or aerosolized at 1 mg/mL to ovalbumin sensitized and challenged BALB/c mice. The control treatments included dexamethasone and budesonide. Day 22 evaluations included inflammation markers such as leukocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), IL-5, CCL11, IFN-γ, LTB4 together with lung NF-κB and AP-1 activation levels and P-selectin expression determined by immunohistochemistry as well as mucus presence using histochemistry.
· Experimental Results
The treatments using α-humulene, both preventive and therapeutic, successfully reduced eosinophil numbers in BALF whereas trans-caryophyllene did not produce any effect. The administration of α-humulene restored IFN-γ levels and reduced IL-5, CCL11, and LTB4 concentrations in BALF while also decreasing IL-5 levels in lymph nodes. The compound suppressed NF-κB/AP-1 activation and reduced P-selectin expression while controlling lung mucus production thereby replicating the positive control treatments' anti-inflammatory effects.