Flavonoid wogonin from medicinal herb is neuroprotective by inhibiting inflammatory activation of microglia

Synthetic wogonin derivatives suppress lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production and hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity

Wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone) has been reported to exhibit a variety of biological properties including anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective functions. In this study, biological activities of diverse synthetic wogonin derivatives have been evaluated in two experimental cell culture models. Inhibitory activities of wogonin derivatives on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in BV2 microglial cells and on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced neuronal cell death in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma were examined. Wogonin derivatives such as WS2 and WS3 showed more potent suppressive activities on LPS-induced NO production and H2O2-induced cytotoxicity than wogonin itself. In addition, thiol substitution played a minor role in enhancing the activities of the derivatives. These findings may contribute to the development of novel anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agents derived from wogonin.

Ginger--an herbal medicinal product with broad anti-inflammatory actions

The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger have been known and valued for centuries. During the past 25 years, many laboratories have provided scientific support for the long-held belief that ginger contains constituents with antiinflammatory properties. The original discovery of ginger's inhibitory effects on prostaglandin biosynthesis in the early 1970s has been repeatedly confirmed. This discovery identified ginger as an herbal medicinal product that shares pharmacological properties with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Ginger suppresses prostaglandin synthesis through inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2. An important extension of this early work was the observation that ginger also suppresses leukotriene biosynthesis by inhibiting 5-lipoxygenase. This pharmacological property distinguishes ginger from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This discovery preceded the observation that dual inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase may have a better therapeutic profile and have fewer side effects than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The characterization of the pharmacological properties of ginger entered a new phase with the discovery that a ginger extract (EV.EXT.77) derived from Zingiber officinale (family Zingiberaceae) and Alpina galanga (family Zingiberaceae) inhibits the induction of several genes involved in the inflammatory response. These include genes encoding cytokines, chemokines, and the inducible enzyme cyclooxygenase-2. This discovery provided the first evidence that ginger modulates biochemical pathways activated in chronic inflammation. Identification of the molecular targets of individual ginger constituents provides an opportunity to optimize and standardize ginger products with respect to their effects on specific biomarkers of inflammation. Such preparations will be useful for studies in experimental animals and humans.

Neuroprotective effects of flavones on hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y neuroblostoma cells

Neuroprotective effects of flavones were examined. Luteolin and apigenin exhibited neuroprotection against oxidative stress-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells. Free radical scavenging activity and neuroprotection assays revealed that flavones exerted their neuroprotective effects via the direct interaction with the apoptotic caspase pathway independently of their antioxidant activity.

Anti-inflammatory plant flavonoids and cellular action mechanisms

Plant flavonoids show anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo. Although not fully understood, several action mechanisms are proposed to explain in vivo anti-inflammatory action. One of the important mechanisms is an inhibition of eicosanoid generating enzymes including phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenases, and lipoxygenases, thereby reducing the concentrations of prostanoids and leukotrienes. Recent studies have also shown that certain flavonoids, especially flavone derivatives, express their anti-inflammatory activity at least in part by modulation of proinflammatory gene expression such as cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and several pivotal cytokines. Due to these unique action mechanisms and significant in vivo activity, flavonoids are considered to be reasonable candidates for new anti-inflammatory drugs. To clearly establish the therapeutic value in inflammatory disorders, in vivo anti-inflammatory activity, and action mechanism of varieties of flavonoids need to be further elucidated. This review summarizes the effect of flavonoids on eicosanoid and nitric oxide generating enzymes and the effect on expression of proinflammatory genes. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity is also discussed. As natural modulators of proinflammatory gene expression, certain flavonoids have a potential for new anti-inflammatory agents.

Neuroprotective effect of wogonin in hippocampal slice culture exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation

A poor supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain can cause severe brain damage. Therefore, neuroprotective drugs against ischemia need to be developed. In this study, wogonin, a flavone found in Scutellaria baicalensis, had a protective effect on neuronal cells damaged by oxygen and glucose deprivation in rat hippocampal slices in culture. In particular, the protective effect on the pyramidal cell layer was significant. On the basis of these experimental results, wogonin may be a therapeutic agent for treating ischemia in patients.

Synthesis and biological activities of 8-arylflavones

A number of 8-arylflavones have been synthesized as congeners of wogonin and evaluated for their inhibitory activities of PGE2 production. 8-Arylflavones were obtained from commercially available chrysin via two different synthetic pathways. Most 8-arylflavones exhibited much reduced inhibitory activities against COX-2 catalyzed PGE2 production compared to that of wogonin. Functional group replacement at the 8-position of wogonin from methoxy to aryl group caused loss of inhibitory activity. Our present results imply that the functional group at the 8-position of flavones seems to play very important roles for bioactivity.

Wogonin inhibits excitotoxic and oxidative neuronal damage in primary cultured rat cortical cells

The present study evaluated effects of wogonin (5,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyflavone) on excitotoxic and oxidative stress-induced neuronal damage in primary cultured rat cortical cells. Wogonin was shown to inhibit the excitotoxicity induced by glutamate or N-methyl-D-aspartic acid, whereas it showed no effects on the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid- or kainate-induced toxicity. In addition, wogonin inhibited the oxidative neuronal damage induced by H(2)O(2), xanthine/xanthine oxidase, and by a glutathione depleting agent D,L-buthionine [S,R]-sulfoximine. Furthermore, wogonin dramatically inhibited lipid peroxidation initiated by Fe(2+) and L-ascorbic acid in rat brain homogenates. It also exhibited 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that wogonin exhibits neuroprotective actions in cultured cortical cells by inhibiting excitotoxicity and various types of oxidative stress-induced damage, and that its antioxidant actions with radical scavenging activity may contribute, at least in part, to the neuroprotective effects.

Wogonin Inhibits Ischemic Brain Injury in a Rat Model of Permanent Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion

The present study evaluated the effect of wogonin, a flavonoid originated from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI, on focal ischemic brain injury in rats. Focal brain ischemia was induced by the permanent occlusion of middle cerebral artery (pMCAO) for 24 h with a silicone rubber cylinder inserted through the right internal carotid artery. We found that wogonin, intraperitoneally administered at a dosage of 20 mg/kg at 30 min before and 4 h after the surgery, reduced the pMCAO-induced infarct areas in the cerebral cortex as well as in the striatum. The total volume of infarction was significantly reduced by the treatment with wogonin. In addition, wogonin was found to significantly improve the pMCAO-induced behavioral deficits at 24 h after the surgery. Taken together, these results demonstrate that wogonin inhibits ischemic brain injury and improves behavioral dysfunction caused by pMCAO. These findings, along with previous reports demonstrating the neuroprotective effects of wogonin, provide strong pharmacological basis for the use of wogonin or Scutellaria baicalensis in the treatment of stroke.