The production of nitric oxide and TNF-alpha in peritoneal macrophages is inhibited by Dichroa febrifuga Lour.
Nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) have been suggested to play an important role in endotoxin-mediated shock and inflammation. In this study, we investigated the effect of aqueous extract of Dichroa febrifuga Lour. (Saxifragaceae) roots, a traditional antimalarial drug, on the production of NO and TNF-alpha. The aqueous extract of D. febrifuga roots (AEDF) inhibited the secretion of NO and TNF-alpha in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages, without affecting cell viability. The protein level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in peritoneal macrophages was also decreased by AEDF. In addition, the serum level of NO was reduced by i.p. administration of AEDF. These results suggest that AEDF suppresses the endotoxin-induced inflammatory responses through inhibiting the production of NO and TNF-alpha, and could be used as an anti-inflammatory drug.
Kim
Y H
YH
Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, South Korea.
Ko
W S
WS
Ha
M S
MS
Lee
C H
CH
Choi
B T
BT
Kang
H S
HS
Kim
H D
HD
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002470:Cell Survival; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012995:Solubility; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000962:Antimalarials; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse