Inhibitory effects of new varieties of bitter melon on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 cells

Bitter melon is widely used as a food and a traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of diabetes; it also possesses antioxidant, anti-tumour, anti-bacterial, anti-obesity, and anti-hypertension activities. The aim of this work was to study the in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of different solvent extracts of the seeds and fruits of new varieties of bitter melon. Of the 30 bitter melon extracts tested, the ethyl acetate extract of the fruit of Momordica charantia MDS72 (EAEF-MCMDS72) exhibited the strongest anti-inflammatory activity. EAEF-MCMDS72 significantly inhibited the production of NO, IL-6, PGE₂, TNF-α, and MCP-1 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. The expression levels of the iNOS and COX-2 proteins in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were inhibited by EAEF-MCMDS72. Real-time RT-PCR analysis indicated that the mRNA expression levels of iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and TNF-α were suppressed by EAEF-MCMDS72. Moreover, four known triterpene compounds including (23E)-cucurbita-5,23,25-triene-3β,7β-diol (1), (23E)-25-methoxycucurbit-23-ene-3β,7β-diol (2), (23E)-5β,19-epoxycucurbita-6,23-diene-3β,25-diol (3), and 3,7-dioxo-23,24,25,26,27-pentanorcucurbit-5-en-22-oic acid (4) were isolated from the fruit of M. charantia MDS72. Compounds 2, 3, 4 suppressed the LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the present study may contribute to our understanding of the anti-inflammatory effects of EAEF-MCMDS72 and its triterpene compounds.     

Anti-inflammatory effect of the extract from fermented <Emphasis Type="Italic">Asterina pectinifera</Emphasis> with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cordyceps militaris</Emphasis> mycelia in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages

In our previous work, Asterina pectinifera was fermented with Cordyceps militaris mycelia to improve its bioactivities and was reported to have strong antioxidant activities. The aim of the current study was to investigate its anti-inflammatory effect and mechanisms of action. In this study, we observed the inhibitory effect of the extract from fermented A. pectinifera with C. militaris mycelia (FACM) on nitric oxide (NO) production and its molecular mechanism in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. FACM could decrease LPS-induced NO production. Western blot analysis showed that FACM could down-regulate LPS-induced expression of inducible NO synthase without affecting cyclooxygenase-2. Moreover, FACM exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-induced RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells through proinflammatory mediators including TNF-α and IL-6 via nuclear factor kappa B pathway. FACM inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase expression. Our results suggest that FACM may be a potential candidate for inflammation therapy by attenuating the generation of cytokines, production of NO, and generation of ROS in RAW264.7 cells.     

蒲公英糖蛋白体外抗炎作用及对NF-κB信号通路的调控

探讨蒲公英糖蛋白(glycoprotein from Taraxacum,TG)对由脂多糖引起的RAW264.7细胞炎症的抗炎效果,并阐明其活性的基本分子机制。利用脂多糖刺激RAW264.7细胞,建立体外炎症模型,采用噻唑蓝比色法检测TG对RAW264.7细胞的增殖毒性,Griess试剂法检测了一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)的分泌情况,反转录聚合酶链式反应检测炎症细胞因子——白细胞介素-6(interleukin 6,IL-6)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α)m RNA以及诱导型一氧化氮合酶(inducible nitric oxide synthase,i NOS)m RNA的表达水平,酶联免疫吸附测定法测定IL-6和TNF-α的分泌量,Western blot检测P-IκB-α蛋白的表达水平,用以研究TG对核转录因子-κB(nuclear factor-kappa B,NF-κB)信号转导通路的抑制作用。结果表明:TG能够显著甚至极显著地抑制NO的分泌,IL-6、TNF-α、i NOS的m RNA的表达,IL-6和TNF-α的分泌(P0.05、P0.01)。TG高度显著上调了IκB-α的蛋白表达(P0.001),并显著下调了P-IκB-α的蛋白表达(P0.05),且与TG质量浓度成正比。其中在TG质量浓度为250、500、1 000μg/m L时对TNF-α分泌量的抑制率分别为28.6%、65.4%、89.3%,对IL-6分泌量的抑制率分别为32.3%、54.1%、85.7%。TG间接抑制了NF-κB信号转导途径,有显著的体外抗炎效果且抗炎效果与TG的质量浓度呈剂量依赖性。     

Anti-inflammatory activity of Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum leaf extract through haem oxygenase-1 induction

Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum (CZ) has been widely used as a tea in Korea. In this study, we investigated the involvement of anti-inflammatory haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the inhibitory activity of a CZ leaf extracts on nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. At the highest concentration of CZ leaf extract (50 μg/mL), NO production was 10% of that in LPS-stimulated macrophages, whereas iNOS protein expression was 5% of that in LPS-stimulated macrophages. CZ leaf extract also inhibited iNOS mRNA expression in a concentration-dependant manner, and at 50 μg/mL, iNOS mRNA expression was approximately 15% of that in LPS-stimulated cells. The CZ leaf extract induced HO-1 expression in a dose-dependent manner, and blocking HO-1 activity abolished the anti-inflammatory effect of CZ leaf extract. These results suggest that CZ leaf extract has a potent anti-inflammatory activity in RAW264.7 cells through the induction of HO-1.     

酱香型白酒中吡嗪类物质体外抗炎作用研究

为研究酱香型白酒中吡嗪类物质的体外抗炎活性及其作用机制,采用脂多糖（LPS）诱导RAW264.7细胞建立炎症模型,并通过酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）测定细胞上清液中一氧化氮（NO）、白细胞介素-6（IL-6）及肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）的含量,进而检测诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）、环氧化酶-2（COX-2）、血红素氧合酶-1（HO-1）、白细胞介素-1（IL-1）、IL-6、TNF-α的信使核糖核酸（mRNA）的表达及对花生四烯酸代谢通路中与生成前列腺素E2（PGE2）有关的关键酶的影响。结果表明,2,3,5-三甲基吡嗪（BQ-5）可抑制细胞上清液中NO上升,抑制磷脂酶A2（PLA2）及COX-2活性,下调LPS诱导的iNOS、COX-2、IL-1、IL-6及TNF-α的mRNA的表达。由此可见,酱香型白酒中含有的吡嗪类物质具有一定的抗炎活性,其中BQ-5可减少炎症介质（IL-1、IL-6、TNF-α）的表达,抑制iNOS基因的表达从而抑制NO的产生,抑制花生四烯酸代谢途径中PGE2合成的关键酶而发挥抗炎作用。     

4 种迷迭香化合物对脂多糖诱导的RAW264.7细胞氧化应激和炎症的抑制作用

目的：研究4 种迷迭香化合物（鼠尾草酸、鼠尾草酚、迷迭香酚和迷迭香酸）对脂多糖（lipopolysaccharide,LPS）诱导的RAW264.7细胞氧化应激和炎症反应的抑制作用。方法：以LPS诱导RAW264.7细胞构建炎症模型,通过比色法、实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应、Western blot等方法表征迷迭香化合物对活性氧（reactive oxygen species,ROS）、炎症因子以及相关酶类的影响。结果：上述4 种迷迭香化合物对LPS诱导的细胞内ROS相对含量、丙二醛（malonic dialdehyde,MDA）含量、NO释放量和肿瘤坏死因子α（tumor necrosis factor α,TNF-α）、白细胞介素1β（interleukin 1β,IL-1β）、IL-6 mRNA相对表达量,以及诱导型一氧化氮合酶（inducible nitric oxide synthase,iNOS）和环氧合酶2（cyclooxygenase 2,COX-2）蛋白相对表达量的升高有显著抑制作用,对超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）和过氧化氢酶（catalase,CAT）活力有显著保护作用,且具有浓度依赖效应。质量浓度10 μg/mL的鼠尾草酸对LPS诱导的ROS相对含量、NO释放量、TNF-α mRNA相对表达量、MDA含量升高的抑制作用和对SOD和CAT活力的保护作用更好,质量浓度10 μg/mL的迷迭香酚对LPS诱导的IL-1β、IL-6 mRNA相对表达量、iNOS和COX-2蛋白相对表达量升高的抑制作用更好。结论：4 种迷迭香化合物均具有一定的抗氧化和抗炎作用,能缓解炎症反应,其中水溶性迷迭香酸有效质量浓度高于其他3 种。     

Evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effects of phloretin and phlorizin in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse macrophages

Many reports suggest that phloretin and phlorizin have antioxidant properties and can inhibit glucose transportation, the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanism of phloretin and phlorizin remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of phloretin and phlorizin in LPS-stimulated murine RAW264.7 macrophages. RAW264.7 cells were pretreated with various concentrations of phloretin or phlorizin (3–100 μM) and cell inflammatory responses were induced with LPS. Pretreated with 10 μM phloretin significantly inhibited the levels of NO, PGE₂, IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS and COX-2. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that phloretin suppressed the nuclear translocation of NF-κB subunit p65 proteins, and decreased phosphorylation in MAPK pathways. Surprisingly, phlorizin did not suppress the inflammatory response in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that phloretin has an anti-inflammatory effect that reduces levels of proinflammatory cytokines and mediators in RAW264.7 cells.     

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.     

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.     

红汁乳菇中愈创木烷型倍半萜化合物的抗炎活性

以新鲜红汁乳菇子实体为原料,采用有机溶剂浸提提取、乙酸乙酯萃取、硅胶柱层析得到单体化合物,通过紫外-可见光谱、高效液相色谱、质谱和核磁共振波谱分析鉴定单体化合物的结构,利用脂多糖（lipopolysaccharide,LPS）诱导RAW264.7巨噬细胞炎症模型,通过聚合酶链式反应和免疫印迹法分析单体化合物对炎症因子mRNA和蛋白相对表达水平的影响,以及对丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（mitogen-activated protein kinase,MAPK）炎症信号通路的作用。结果：从红汁乳菇中提取出具有较强抗炎活性的单体化合物,经鉴定为愈创木烷型倍半萜类化合物;与模型组相比,该倍半萜能极显著降低脂多糖刺激巨噬细胞中白细胞介素-6（interleukin,IL）-6、IL-1β、肿瘤坏死因子-α（tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α）和一氧化氮合酶（inducible nitric oxide synthase,iNOS）的mRNA相对表达水平（P＜0.01）;该倍半萜能降低LPS刺激的巨噬细胞中炎症因子环氧化酶-2（cyclooxygenase-2,COX-2）、IL-1β、IL-6、iNOS和TNF-α蛋白相对表达水平,且呈现一定的浓度依赖性;该倍半萜能降低磷酸化的细胞外信号激酶（p44/42）、p38 MAPK（简称p38蛋白）和c-Jun氨基端激酶（c-Jun N-terminal kinase,JNK）3 种蛋白激酶的磷酸化水平,从而抑制MAPK炎症通路的活性。     

沙葱总黄酮水洗组分的体外抗炎活性

本实验在体外应用脂多糖（lipopolysaccharides,LPS）诱导小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞建立炎症模型的基础上,探讨沙葱总黄酮水洗组分的体外抗炎活性。应用CCK-8法检测0、50、100、200、400、800 μg/mL沙葱总黄酮水洗组分对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞增殖活力的影响;将细胞分为空白对照组、LPS应激模型组及不同质量浓度沙葱总黄酮水洗组分预处理组,采用Griess法及酶联免疫吸附测定法分别测定各处理组细胞上清液中NO浓度和肿瘤坏死因子-α（tumor necrosis factor-α,TNF-α）、白细胞介素（interleukin,IL）-1β、IL-6、IL-10的质量浓度,反转录实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应法检测各处理组细胞中诱导型一氧化氮合酶（inducible nitric oxide synthase,iNOS）、TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6、IL-10、髓样分化蛋白（myeloid differential protein,MyD）88、核因子 κB（nuclear factor κB,NF-κB）mRNA的表达水平。结果显示：与对照组相比,沙葱总黄酮水洗组分在50～800 μg/mL时对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞无明显细胞毒性作用。与LPS应激模型组相比,沙葱总黄酮水洗组分能够极显著抑制促炎介质NO、TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6质量浓度及其mRNA的表达（P＜0.01或P＜0.001）;高度显著提高抗炎细胞因子IL-10质量浓度及其mRNA的表达（P＜0.001）,且呈剂量依赖效应;极显著降低MyD88、NF-κB mRNA的表达水平（P＜0.01或P＜0.001）。由此得出,沙葱总黄酮水洗组分对LPS诱导的小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞具有抗炎作用,其抗炎活性可能是通过抑制促炎性介质NO、TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-6的分泌并提高抗炎性细胞因子IL-10的质量浓度实现的,其作用机制可能与NF-κB信号通路有关。     

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn) plumule polysaccharide protects the spleen and liver from spontaneous inflammation in non-obese diabetic mice by modulating pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine gene expression

A novel lotus plumule polysaccharide (LPPS) was administered to non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice for 15 weeks to evaluate the protective effects of LPPS on type 1 diabetes. After the 15-week feeding experiment, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 expressions in the spleen, liver and kidney of the experimental mice were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. The results showed that LPPS significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the absolute weights of the enlarged spleens in the NOD mice in a dose-dependent manner, inhibited pro-inflammatory TNF-α and IL-6 cytokine production and decreased the secretion ratio of IL-6/IL-10 in splenocyte cultures. LPPS markedly decreased the relative expression of pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine genes (TNF-α/IL-10 and IL-6/IL-10) in the livers of NOD mice. Our results suggest that LPPS protected the spleen and liver from spontaneous inflammation in NOD mice by modulating pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine gene expression.     

Blueberries reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α and IL-6 production in mouse macrophages by inhibiting NF-κB activation and the MAPK pathway

Blueberries (BB) have been reported to attenuate atherosclerosis in apoE-deficient (ApoE(-/-) ) mice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of BB in reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine production in mouse macrophages. ApoE(-/-) mice were fed AIN-93G diet (CD) or CD formulated to contain 1% freeze-dried BB for 5 wk. TNF-α and IL-6 were lower in serum of BB-fed mice and TNF-α expression in aorta was down-regulated with BB feeding. Protein level and mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly lower in the peritoneal macrophages from mice fed BB without or with LPS or oxLDL stimulation. RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with polyphenol-enriched extracts made from the sera of rats fed CD (SEC) or CD containing 10% BB (SEB). SEB significantly inhibited LPS-induced mRNA expression and protein levels of TNF-α and IL-6. Furthermore, SEB inhibited the phosphorylation of IκB, NF-κB p65, MAPK p38 and JNK. All of these are important signaling pathways involved in the production of TNF-α and IL-6.     

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Dichondra repens Forst. and its reference compounds

Dichondra repens (DR) is the main constituent in herbal beverages and consumed daily as a nutrition supplement for the liver in Taiwan. This study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of D. repens ethanol extract (EDR) and its reference compounds ex vivo and in vivo. Fingerprint chromatograms (from HPLC) indicated that EDR contained vanillin, umbelliferone and scopoletin. EDR was evaluated for its antioxidant effects and LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 cells. EDR decreased the LPS-induced NO production and expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in RAW 264.7 cells. In vivo anti-inflammatory activities of EDR were assessed in mouse paw oedema, induced by λ-carrageenan (Carr). We investigate the antioxidant mechanism of EDR via studies of the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the liver and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitrite oxide (NO) in the oedematous paw. Serum NO and TNF-α were also measured. EDR exerts anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing TNF-α, NO, and might be related to the decrement of the level of MDA in the oedema paw via increasing the activities of CAT, SOD and GPx in the liver. The results show that EDR might be a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.     

Anti-inflammatory effects and chemical study of a flavonoid-enriched fraction from adlay bran

Anti-inflammation-guided fractionation and purification were used to evaluate the bioactivity and components of adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) bran. Results showed that the fraction with high phenolic and flavonoid contents from the ethanol extracts of adlay bran suppressed LPS-stimulated IL-6 and TNF-α secretions in a concentration-dependent manner in RAW 264.7 cells and murine peritoneal macrophages. Fifteen compounds, including a novel aurone derivative, two chromones, one dihydrochalcone, one chalcone, four flavanones, five flavones and one isoflavone, were isolated from the active fraction. The structure of the new compound was elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR and MS. All of the isolates are reported for the first time from adlay except naringenin. LC/MS was also provided as an analytical platform. Our results suggest that flavonoids in adlay bran, partially at least, contribute to its anti-inflammatory effect. Thus, adlay bran may be beneficial to the health of consumers.     

Antibacterial,anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities of standardised pomegranate rind extract

Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities of standardised pomegranate rind extract (SPRE) containing 13% w/w ellagic acid were studied in vitro. The antibacterial activity of SPRE was determined using the disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. SPRE exhibited a potent bacteriostatic effect against Propionibacterium acnes, a Gram-positive anaerobe, with a MIC of 15.6 μg/ml, and Gram-positive facultative anaerobic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, with MICs of 7.8–15.6 μg/ml. Anti-inflammatory activity of SPRE was evaluated by measuring the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production by murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. SPRE exhibited a potent NO inhibitory effect, with an IC₅₀ of 10.7 μg/ml. Evaluation of the anti-allergic activity showed that SPRE inhibited the release of β-hexosaminidase from antigen-stimulated rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells with an IC₅₀ of 20.9 μg/ml. In addition, SPRE exhibited only moderate cytotoxicity on human keratinocyte cells, with CC₅₀ of 33.6 μg/ml. These findings support the potential use of SPRE as a nutraceutical for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic proposes.     

Protective effect of Lactobacillus fermentum CQPC04 on dextran sulfate sodium–induced colitis in mice is associated with modulation of the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway

Colitis severely affects the quality of life of patients, and lactic acid bacteria have been reported to be able to improve or treat colitis. In this study, we selected a strain of Lactobacillus fermentum (CQPC04) with good resistance in vitro to evaluate its effect on improvement in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)–induced colitis. We analyzed the effects of L. fermentum CQPC04 on mice with colitis macroscopically via colon length and histopathology. We also used conventional biochemical and ELISA kits, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), and Western blotting to analyze microscopically the effects of L. fermentum CQPC04 on related oxidant indices and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in serum and colon tissue of mice. The results indicated that L. fermentum CQPC04 notably increased colon length and ameliorated pathological damage of colon tissue in colitic mice. Serum indices showed that L. fermentum CQPC04 increased the enzyme activity of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT) and decreased the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO). In addition, it inhibited the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-12, and increased the release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in serum. The RT-qPCR experiments confirmed that L. fermentum CQPC04 downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine nuclear factor-κB-p65 (NF-κBp65), NF-κB inhibitor-α (IκB-α), TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and upregulated the expression of IL-10 in colon tissue. Western blot analysis indicated that L. fermentum CQPC04 significantly reduced expression of NF-κBp65, TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2, and iNOS in mouse colon tissues, and increased expression of IκB-α and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2). Thus, L. fermentum CQPC04 could effectively alleviate the symptoms of DSS-induced colitis mice and is a potential probiotic for human experiments.