title: Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase II by Platycodon grandiflorum saponins via suppression of nuclear factor-kappaB activation in RAW 264.7 cells.
abstract: Saponins are glycosidic compounds present in many edible and inedible plants. They exhibit potent biological activities in mammalian systems, including several beneficial effects such as anti-inflammation and immunomodulation. In this study, we investigated the effects of seven platycodin saponins on the activities of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase II (COX-2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. We found that 2"-O-acetyl polygalacin D (S1), platycodin A (S2), platycodin D (S3), and polygalacin D (S6) inhibited LPS-induced NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, these compounds inhibited the expression of LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 protein and mRNA without an appreciable cytotoxic effect on RAW 264.7 macrophages, and could suppress induction by LPS of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Treatment with these compounds of RAW 264.7 cells transfected with a reporter construct indicated a reduced level of LPS-induced nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity and effectively lowered NF-kappaB binding as measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The suppression of NF-kappaB activation appears to occur through the prevention of inhibitor kappaB (IkappaB) degradation. In vivo, platycodin saponin mixture (PS) and S3 protected mice from the lethal effects of LPS. The 89% lethality induced by LPS/galactosamine was reduced to 60% and 50% when PS and S3, respectively, were administered simultaneously with LPS. These results suggest that the main inhibitory mechanism of the platycodin saponins may be the reduction of iNOS and COX-2 gene expression through blocking of NF-kappaB activation.
authors.affiliation: Natural Products Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 110-460, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Eun Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.forename: Hai Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Sam Sik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yeong Shik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D031238:Platycodon / Q000737:chemistry*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012503:Saponins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases