Flavonoids isolated from Lespedeza cuneata G. Don and their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV-2 microglia cells

BACKGROUND

Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don, a perennial legume native to Eastern Asia, has been used therapeutically in traditional Asian medicine to protect the function of liver, kidneys and lungs. However, its effect on inflammatory nitric oxide (NO) production and the active constituents have not yet been explored.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we investigated the phytochemical constituents of L. cuneata and evaluated their effect on NO production using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The 80% methanol extract of the aerial part of L. cuneata were used for the isolation of flavonoids. The isolated compounds were elucidated by various spectroscopic methods including nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry spectrometry. To evaluate the effect on inflammatory NO production, LPS-stimulated murine microglia BV-2 cells were used as a screening system.

RESULTS

Nine flavonoids were isolated from the aerial parts of L. cuneata. Among the isolated flavonoids, compounds 4, 5, 7 and 9 are reported from the genus Lespedeza for the first time. Moreover, compounds 1 and 6 showed significant inhibitory effects on NO production in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells without cell toxicity.

CONCLUSION

In this study, nine flavonoids were isolated from L. cuneata. Among the compounds, only 1 and 6, which have free hydroxyl groups at both C3 and C7 showed significant inhibitory activity on NO production in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. These results suggested L. cuneata and its flavonoid constituents as possible candidate for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

Severity of acute and chronic urticaria correlates with D-dimer level, but not C-reactive protein or total IgE

BACKGROUND

Although various scoring systems for measuring urticaria severity have been introduced, most rely on subjective criteria. Therefore, additional objective criteria such as laboratory markers would be helpful adjuncts in making this assessment.

AIM

To evaluate the usefulness of three laboratory markers [D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), and total IgE] in assessing disease severity of both acute urticaria (AU) and chronic urticaria (CU).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 94 patients with urticaria. Correlations between the aforementioned laboratory markers and the Urticaria Activity Score (UAS) were calculated.

RESULTS

A substantial proportion of patients with urticaria (acute 43.5%; chronic 39.6%) had an increased D-dimer level. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between D-dimer level and UAS (AU r = 0.60, P < 0.001; CU r = 0.37, P < 0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between UAS and either CRP or total IgE.

CONCLUSIONS

D-dimer level could be used as a marker of disease severity for both AU and CU. However, CRP and total IgE are not as reliable in predicting disease severity.