title: Inhibitory effect of Asparagus cochinchinensis on tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion from astrocytes.
abstract: We investigated whether an aqueous extract of Asparagus cochinchinensis Merrill (Liliaceae) roots (ACAE) inhibits secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) from primary cultures of mouse astrocytes. ACAE dose-dependently inhibited the TNF-alpha secretion by astrocytes stimulated with substance P (SP) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). IL-1 has been shown to elevate TNF-alpha secretion from LPS-stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. We therefore investigated whether IL-1 mediated inhibition of TNF-alpha secretion from astrocytes by ACAE. Treatment of ACAE to astrocytes stimulated with both LPS and SP decreased IL-1 secretion. Moreover, incubation of astrocytes with IL-1 antibody abolished the synergistic cooperative effect of LPS and SP. These results suggest that ACAE may inhibit TNF-alpha secretion by inhibiting IL-1 secretion and that ACAE has a antiinflammatory activity in the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Chonbuk, South Korea.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lyu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013373:Substance P