Anti-inflammatory Effects of the Methanol Extract of Polytrichum Commune via NF-κB Inactivation in RAW 264.7 Macrophage Cells

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Bryophytes Extracts in LPS-Stimulated RAW264.7 Murine Macrophages

Bryophytes produce rare and bioactive compounds with a broad range of therapeutic potential, and many species are reported in ethnomedicinal uses. However, only a few studies have investigated their potential as natural anti-inflammatory drug candidate compounds. The present study investigates the anti-inflammatory effects of thirty-two species of bryophytes, including mosses and liverworts, on Raw 264.7 murine macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or recombinant human peroxiredoxin (hPrx1). The 70% ethanol extracts of bryophytes were screened for their potential to reduce the production of nitric oxide (NO), an important pro-inflammatory mediator. Among the analyzed extracts, two moss species significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO production without cytotoxic effects. The bioactive extracts of Dicranum majus and Thuidium delicatulum inhibited NO production in a concentration-dependent manner with IC₅₀ values of 1.04 and 1.54 µg/mL, respectively. The crude 70% ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts were then partitioned with different solvents in increasing order of polarity (n-hexane, diethyl ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol). The fractions were screened for their inhibitory effects on NO production stimulated with LPS at 1 ng/mL or 10 ng/mL. The NO production levels were significantly affected by the fractions of decreasing polarity such as n-hexane and diethyl ether ones. Therefore, the potential of these extracts to inhibit the LPS-induced NO pathway suggests their effective properties in attenuating inflammation and could represent a perspective for the development of innovative therapeutic agents.

Effect of ginseng polysaccharides on the immunity and growth of piglets by dietary supplementation during late pregnancy and lactating sows

There are many reports that dietary supplementation with plant polysaccharides in pigs might promote their growth, but little is known about the maternal effect of ginseng polysaccharides (GPS) on piglets' growth by dietary supplementation to pregnant and lactating sows. In the current study, the effects of dietary supplementation with GPS on the immunity of sows and growth of their piglets were investigated. Results showed no significant difference among the four groups in the total number of piglets, live piglets, weak piglets and birth weight of piglets, indicating the GPS-treatment has no adverse effect on reproduction. Furthermore, the weaning weight of the GPS-treated groups was higher than that of control group (P < 0.05); among them, the addition of 200 mg/kg dose has the best effect. Interestingly, GPS increased the total immunoglobulin G concentration in milk and serum of sows (P < 0.05). The concentrations of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon-γ in milk and serum of sows were also increased in the experimental groups relative to the control (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, maternal supplementation of GPS significantly increased IL-2 and TNF-α concentration in the piglets' serum of the experimental groups relative to control (P < 0.05). GPS (200 mg/kg) significantly increased the glutathione peroxidase activity in milk and serum (P < 0.05), while the concentrations of malondialdehyde were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The present results indicated that GPS supplementation during late pregnancy and lactation improved immunity-related bio-molecular levels in sow serum and milk, which may be further beneficial to piglet health and growth through biological transmission effects.

Polyacetylene Compound from Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense Inhibited Caspase-1-mediated IL-1β Expression

Our previous report showed that polyacetylene compound, 1-Heptadecene-11, 13-diyne-8, 9, 10-triol (PA) from the root of Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense has anti-inflammatory activity. In this study we investigated the role of the PA as inhibitor of caspase-1, which converts prointerleukin-1β (proIL-1β) to active IL-1β and is activated by inflammasome involved in the inflammatory process. We tested the effect of PA on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β in murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7. PA inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-1β production by macrophages at a dose dependent manner. PA also suppressed the activation of caspase-1. The mRNA level of ASC (apoptosis-associated spec-like protein containing a CARD), an important adaptor protein of inflammasome, was decreased in the PA treated group. Therefore our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of PA is due to inhibit the caspase-1 activation.

Molecular mechanism of macrophage activation by red ginseng acidic polysaccharide from Korean red ginseng

Red ginseng acidic polysaccharide (RGAP), isolated from Korean red ginseng, displays immunostimulatory and antitumor activities. Even though numerous studies have been reported, the mechanism as to how RGAP is able to stimulate the immune response is not clear. In this study, we aimed to explore the mechanism of molecular activation of RGAP in macrophages. RGAP treatment strongly induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells without altering morphological changes, although the activity was not strong compared to LPS-induced dendritic-like morphology in RAW264.7 cells. RGAP-induced NO production was accompanied with enhanced mRNA levels of iNOS and increases in nuclear transcription factors such as NF-κB, AP-1, STAT-1, ATF-2, and CREB. According to pharmacological evaluation with specific enzyme inhibitors, Western blot analysis of intracellular signaling proteins and inhibitory pattern using blocking antibodies, ERK, and JNK were found to be the most important signaling enzymes compared to LPS signaling cascade. Further, TLR2 seems to be a target surface receptor of RGAP. Lastly, macrophages isolated from RGS2 knockout mice or wortmannin exposure strongly upregulated RGAP-treated NO production. Therefore, our results suggest that RGAP can activate macrophage function through activation of transcription factors such as NF-κB and AP-1 and their upstream signaling enzymes such as ERK and JNK.

Stercurensin inhibits nuclear factor-κB-dependent inflammatory signals through attenuation of TAK1-TAB1 complex formation

We identified a chalcone, 2',4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-3'-methylchalcone (stercurensin), as an active compound isolated from the leaves of Syzygium samarangense. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory effects and underlying mechanisms of stercurensin were examined using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and mice. To determine the effects of stercurensin in vitro, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression were analyzed by RT-PCR and immunoblotting. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation and its upstream signaling cascades were also investigated using a dual-luciferase reporter assay, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, and immunoprecipitation. To verify the effects of stercurensin in vivo, the mRNA expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 were evaluated in isolated mouse peritoneal macrophages by quantitative real-time PCR, and the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β were assessed in serum samples from mice using a Luminex system. Pretreatment with stercurensin reduced LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression, thereby inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) production, respectively. In addition, an inhibitory effect of stercurensin on NF-κB activation was shown by the recovery of LPS-induced inhibitor of κB (I-κB) degradation after blocking the transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1)/I-κB kinase signaling pathway. In mouse models, stercurensin negatively regulated NF-κB-dependent pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines. These results demonstrate that stercurensin modulates NF-κB-dependent inflammatory pathways through the attenuation of TAK1-TAB1 complex formation. Our findings demonstrating the anti-inflammatory effects of stercurensin in vitro and in vivo will aid in understanding the pharmacology and mode of action of stercurensin.

Dimethyl cardamonin inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory factors through blocking NF-kappaB p65 activation

This study has found that dimethyl cardamonin (2',4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethylchalcone; DMC), a naturally occurring chalcone, showed potent anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. In a cellular model of inflammation, DMC inhibited production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and attenuated expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1 beta, inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). DMC prevented nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) p65 subunit by reducing inhibitor of kappaB alpha (I-kappaB alpha) phosphorylation and degradation, which resulted in a suppression of NF-kappaB activities for its target genes. In a mouse model of endotoxin shock, the intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of DMC (1-50mg/kg) suppressed TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-1 beta secretion in LPS-induced mouse blood serum. These results suggest that DMC exerts anti-inflammatory effects through blocking NF-kappaB activation, therefore, DMC may act as an effective therapeutic strategy against a variety of inflammatory diseases.

Oploxynes A and B, polyacetylenes from the stems of Oplopanax elatus

Two new polyacetylenes, oploxynes A (1) and B (2), and the known oplopandiol (3) and falcarindiol (4) were isolated from the stem of Oplopanax elatus. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined to be 9,10-epoxyheptadeca-4,6-diyne-3,8-diol and 10-methoxyheptadeca-4,6-diyne-3,8,9-triol, respectively, on the basis of their UV, MS, and NMR data. The absolute configurations of these compounds were determined using the modified Mosher's method and acetonide formation. Oploxyne A (1), oplopandiol (3), and falcarindiol (4) inhibited the formation of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine macrophage RAW 267.7 cells.

In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extract from Acer tegmentosum

AIM OF STUDY

Acer tegmentosum has been traditionally used for folk medicine to treat hepatic disorders such as hepatitis, hepatic cancer, and hepatic cirrhosis. In this study, we demonstrate the ethno-pharmacological activity of Acer tegmentosum in in vitro and in vivo inflammatory conditions.

RESULTS

The 70% ethanol extract (At-EE) of Acer tegmentosum dose-dependently diminished the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and prostaglandin (PG)E(2), in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages, by a transcriptional mechanism. At-EE also suppressed the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, activator protein (AP)-1, and cAMP-responsive element binding (CREB), and simultaneously blocked their upstream inflammatory signalling cascades, including Akt, p38, and JNK. Furthermore, At-EE protected against LPS-induced cell death induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and neutralized reactive species generation. In agreement with the in vitro results, orally administered At-EE strongly ameliorated ear oedema formation induced by arachidonic acid.

CONCLUSION

At-EE displays strong anti-inflammatory activities in vitro and in vivo, contributing to its major ethno-pharmacological role such as anti-hepatitis remedy and may be applicable to novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics.