title: Anti-inflammatory activity of Ailanthus altissima in ovalbumin-induced lung inflammation.
abstract: As part of an ongoing investigation to find bioactive medicinal herbs exerting anti-inflammation activity, the effect of an ethanol extract from the parts of Ailanthus altissima (Simaroubaceae) was evaluated in both in vitro and in in vivo system. The ethanol extract of A. altissima (EAa) inhibited generation of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) dependent phases of prostaglandin D2 in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 214.6 microg/ml. However, this compound did not inhibit COX-2 protein expression up to a concentration of 400 microg/ml in the BMMC, indicating that EAa directly inhibits COX-2 activity. In addition, EAa inhibited leukotriene C4 production with an IC50 value of 25.7 microg/ml. Furthermore, this compound inhibited degranulation reaction in a dose dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 27.3 microg/ml. Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice were orally pretreated with EAa before aerosol challenges. EAa reduced the eosinophil infiltration into the airway and the eotaxin, IL-4, and IL-13 mRNA expression levels. These results suggest that the anti-inflammation activity of A. altissima in OVA-induced lung inflammation may occur in part via the down regulation of T(H)2 cytokines and eotaxin transcripts as well as the inhibition of inflammatory mediators.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyongsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Mei Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jumin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yook
authors.forename: Eunkyung
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang Xin
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Zhejiu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Quan
authors.forename: Kun Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Ki Hwan
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Hyun Pyo
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sam Sik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hyeun Wook
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D032268:Ailanthus / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015230:Prostaglandin D2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016207:Cytokines; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D010047:Ovalbumin; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D001619:beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases; D015230:Prostaglandin D2