Anti-inflammatory effect of flavonoids isolated from Korea Citrus aurantium L. on lipopolysaccharide-induced mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells by blocking of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathways

Citrus fruits are an abundant source of various flavonoids, which have been used as a traditional herbal medicine in Korea and China. Most flavonoids are known to have anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and analgesic properties. In this study, it was examined whether flavonoids (nobiletin, naringin and hesperidin) isolated from Korea Citrus aurantium L. inhibited the pro-inflammatory mediators including cytokines by blocking nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The flavonoids suppressed mRNA and protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in LPS-induced macrophages. The molecular mechanism was associated with inhibition of the degradation/phosphorylation of I-κB-α and nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p-65 as well as phosphorylation of MAPK by flavonoids. These results suggest that flavonoids have anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing expression of COX-2, iNOS and cytokines by blocking the NF-κB and MAPK signalling in RAW 264.7 macrophages.     

Glucosamine inhibits LPS-induced COX-2 and iNOS expression in mouse macrophage cells (RAW 264.7) by inhibition of p38-MAP kinase and transcription factor NF-kappaB

Glucosamine supplements are very promising nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents widely used for the treatment of arthritis in animals and humans. In this study, we have proposed the molecular mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory properties of glucosamine hydrochloride (GLN) using mouse macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7). Treatment with GLN inhibited LPS-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production. Western blotting and RT-PCR analysis showed that GLN treatment decreased LPS-induced inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein and mRNA expression in RAW 264.7 cells, respectively. To further elucidate the mechanism of inhibitory effect of GLN, we studied the LPS-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (pp44/42 and pp38). Our results clearly indicated that GLN treatment resulted in a reduction of pp38, whereas activation of p44/42 was not affected. In addition, LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) DNA binding suggests an inhibitory effect of GLN. These results indicate that GLN suppresses the LPS-induced production of NO, expression of iNOS and COX-2 by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation and phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase.     

In vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of 1-dehydro-[6]-gingerdione, 6-shogaol, 6-dehydroshogaol and hexahydrocurcumin

Hexahydrocurcumin, 1-dehydro-[6]-gingerdione, 6-dehydroshogaol and 6-shogaol were evaluated for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in the present study. The relative antioxidant potencies of ginger compounds decreased in similar order of 1-dehydro-[6]-gingerdione, hexahydrocurcumin>6-shogaol>6-dehydroshogaol in both 1,1-diphenyl-2-picyrlhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. All tested compounds could attenuate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-elicited increase of prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)) in murine macrophages (RAW 264.7) in a concentration-dependent manner but hexahydrocurcumin of 7μM and 6-shogaol of 7μM. The strongest inhibitory effect was observed for 6-dehydroshogaol and 6-shogaol at 14μM with the inhibition of 53.3% and 48.9%, respectively. Furthermore, both 6-dehydroshogaol and 1-dehydro-[6]-gingerdione significantly suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins in a concentration-dependent fashion. These results contribute to our theoretical understanding of the potential beneficial effects of consuming ginger as a food and/or dietary supplement.     

Suppression of LPS-induced inflammatory activities by Rosmarinus officinalis L.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) has been used in folk medicine to treat headaches, epilepsy, poor circulation, and many other ailments. It was found that rosemary could act as a stimulant and mild analgesic and could reduce inflammation. However, the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of rosemary need more study to be established. Therefore, in this study, the effects of rosemary on the activation of nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), and cytokine in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were investigated. A methanol extract of rosemary and its hexane fraction reduced NO generation with an IC₅₀ of 2.75 and 2.83 μg/ml, respectively. Also, the methanol extract and the hexane fraction inhibited LPS-induced MAPKs and NF-kB activation associated with the inhibition of iNOS or COX-2 expression. LPS-induced production of PGE₂ and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were blocked by rosemary. Rosemary extract and its hexane fraction are important for the prevention of phosphorylation of MAPKs, thereby blocking NF-kB activation, which in turn leads to decreased expression of iNOS and COX-2, thus preventing inflammation.     

Japanese bog orchid (Eupatorium japonicum) extract suppresses expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 induced by toll-like receptor agonists

Toll-like receptors (TLR) play an important role in the recognition of many pathogen-associated molecular patterns and the induction of innate immunity. Dysregulated activation of TLR signaling pathways is associated with certain inflammatory diseases. Japanese bog orchid (Eupatorium japonicum), which belongs to a family of Asteraceae plants, is consumed as a tea. The present study investigated the effect of the ethanol extracts of flowers of Japanese bog orchid (EJE) on nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) by TLR agonists in murine macrophages. EJE suppressed NF-κB activation and iNOS and COX-2 expression induced by lipopolysaccharide (TLR4 agonist), polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (TLR3), and macrophage-activating 2 kDa lipopeptide (TLR2 and TLR6). These results suggest that EJE can regulate TLR signaling pathways and indicated its potential as a potent anti-inflammatory drug.     

羊栖菜多酚通过核转录因子-κB/丝裂原活化蛋白激酶通路缓解脂多糖诱导的RAW264.7细胞炎症反应

目的：研究羊栖菜多酚对脂多糖（lipopolysaccharide,LPS）诱导小鼠单核巨噬细胞白血病细胞RAW264.7细胞炎症反应的影响。方法：噻唑蓝法测定细胞活力;Griess法测定一氧化氮（NO）水平;实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应测定白细胞介素（interleukin,IL）-6、IL-1β、肿瘤坏死因子（tumor necrosis factor,TNF）-α、环氧合酶2（cyclooxygenase-2,COX-2）和诱导型一氧化氮合酶（inducible nitric oxide synthase,iNOS）的基因相对表达量;流式细胞术测定细胞吞噬能力;蛋白免疫印迹法测定信号通路丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（mitogen-activated protein kinases,MAPKs）和核转录因子（nuclear factor,NF）-κB信号通路关键蛋白表达水平。结果：羊栖菜多酚对RAW264.7细胞的安全质量浓度范围为0～160 μg/mL。与LPS组相比,羊栖菜多酚剂量依赖性降低巨噬细胞吞噬能力并抑制NO的生成。同时,羊栖菜多酚下调促炎细胞因子（IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α）和炎症诱导酶（iNOS、COX-2）的mRNA水平,且作用效果与给药剂量及LPS刺激时间相关。这些炎性介质的表达与羊栖菜多酚抑制p38 MAPK和NF-κB p65的激活有关。结论：羊栖菜多酚可通过减弱p38 MAPK和NF-κB p65信号通路的激活水平,抑制下游炎症介质的转录表达,从而缓解LPS诱导的巨噬细胞炎症反应。     

Anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract of Sargassum sagamianum in RAW 264.7 cells

Aim of the study is to evaluate the antiinflammatory effects of ethanolic extract of the marine brown alga Sargassum sagamianum collected from Yeonhwari coast of Korea. Ethanolic extract of S. sagamianum (SA-E extract) inhibited expression of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α) as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells without affecting cell viability. In addition, the expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 was suppressed by SA-E extract. Furthermore, the rate of formation of edema in the mouse ear was reduced by 46% at the highest dose tested (250 mg/kg) compared to that in the control. This study suggests that SA-E extract exerts potent inhibitory effects on LPS-induced expression of inflammatory mediators such as NO, iNOS, COX-2, and cytokines in macrophages through suppression of the NF-κB p65 pathway. SA-E extract might have potential clinical applications as an anti-inflammatory agent.     

大蒜素对脂多糖诱导腹腔巨噬细胞炎症反应的抑制作用及机制

目的:探讨大蒜素对脂多糖(LPS)诱导小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞炎症反应的抑制作用及机制。方法:建立LPS诱导小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞炎症反应细胞模型,并用地塞米松和不同浓度大蒜素处理,MTT法检测细胞活力,中性红吞噬实验检测吞噬能力,Griess法检测一氧化氮(NO)及ELISA法检测COX-2酶活性和IL-6的分泌,qPCR检测环氧合酶2(COX-2)、一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)和IL-6的mRNA表达水平,Western Blot检测COX-2、iNOS和IL-6的蛋白表达以及核转录因子NF-κB p65及其磷酸化产物的相对表达。结果:大蒜素浓度在40~160 μg/mL范围内对腹腔巨噬细胞均无细胞毒性;与LPS组比较,大蒜素处理组能促进腹腔巨噬细胞的吞噬能力,能显著(P<0.05)抑制炎症因子COX-2酶活性、NO和IL-6的分泌,能显著(P<0.05)抑制基因COX-2、iNOS和IL-6 mRNA和蛋白的相对表达,并极显著(P<0.01)抑制NF-κB p65信号通路的磷酸化。结论:大蒜素能显著抑制LPS诱导的小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞的炎症反应,其机制可能与抑制NF-κB信号通路激活有关。     

Anti-inflammatory effect of the hexane fraction from Orostachys japonicus in RAW 264.7 cells by suppression of NF-κB and PI3K-Akt signaling

We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of the hexane fraction from Orostachys japonicus (OJH) in LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Pretreatment with OJH dose-dependently reduced the cellular NO (nitric oxide) concentration and also inhibited expression of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) protein and mRNA. By the prevention of IκBα (inhibitory factor kappa B alpha) phosphorylation and degradation, OJH inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB (nuclear factor-kappa B) activation. OJH had no effect on the LPS-induced phosphorylation of ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase), JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase), or p38, whereas it attenuated the phosphorylation of Akt in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, OJH suppressed the LPS-induced expression of LPS receptors CD14 and TLR4 (toll like receptor 4). These results suggest that OJH may interrupt LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cascades through inhibition of NF-κB and Akt activation.     

Native Australian fruit polyphenols inhibit COX-2 and iNOS expression in LPS-activated murine macrophages

Purified polyphenolic-rich extracts from four native Australian fruits, Illawarra Plum (Podocarpus elatus Endl., Podocarpaceae), Kakadu Plum (Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell, Combretaceae), Muntries (Kunzea pomifera F. Muell., Myrtaceae) and Native Currant (Acrotriche depressa R.Br., Epacridaceae), were screened for their ability to modulate anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-activated murine macrophages (RAW 264.7). The Kakadu Plum extract inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and importantly was the only fruit in this study that displayed differential inhibition of the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 but not COX-1. Illawarra Plum (COX-2 and iNOS) and Native Currant (iNOS only) also inhibited inflammatory enzymes, while Muntries exhibited none of these activities under the same conditions. All evaluated extracts inhibited the production of prostaglandin E₂ and nitric oxide, suggesting the involvement of alternative pathways in their regulation for the Muntries extract. Further molecular investigations, showed that Kakadu Plum inhibited the NF-??B pathway, but not the p44/42 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Collectively, these results demonstrate potential anti-inflammatory activities of native Australian fruits, in particular Kakadu Plum, in LPS-activated murine macrophages, thus confirming the potential biological activities of these fruits.     

铁观音茶提取物对脂多糖诱导RAW264.7细胞炎症反应的抑制作用及机制

研究铁观音茶提取物对脂多糖(LPS)诱导的RAW264.7细胞炎症反应的抑制作用及机制。用脂多糖作用于RAW264.7细胞,建立炎症模型,并用吲哚美辛和不同浓度铁观音提取物处理,检测NO和IL-6的分泌情况,qPCR检测一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)、环氧合酶2(COX-2)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)、单核细胞趋化蛋白1(MCP-1)、白细胞介素6(IL-6)mRNA相对表达,Western Blot检测炎症相关蛋白激酶(IKKβ),核转录因子κB抑制因子(IκB)、核转录因子κB p65(NF κB p65)及其磷酸化产物的相对表达。结果显示,铁观音茶提取物能显著抑制炎症介质NO分泌和IL-6蛋白表达量(p<0.05),抑制炎症相关基因iNOS、COX-2、TNF-α和MCP-1等表达,并极显著抑制NF-κB信号通路相关蛋白IKKβ、IkB和p65的磷酸化(p<0.01)。以上结果表明,铁观音茶提取物可明显抑制LPS诱导的RAW264.7细胞炎症反应,其机制可能与抑制NF-κB信号通路激活有关。