title: Amygdalin suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in mouse BV2 microglial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Amygdalin (D-mandelonitrile-beta-D-gentiobioside) is a cynogenic compound found in sweet and bitter almonds, Persicae semen and Armeniacae semen. Amygdalin has been used for the treatment of cancers and for the relief of the pain. We made an aqueous extraction of amygdalin from Armeniacae semen. In this study, the effect of amygdalin on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of amygdalin extracted from Armeniacae semen on the LPS-stimulated mRNA expressions of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the mouse BV2 microglial cells were investigated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The effects of amygdalin on the prostaglandins E(2) synthesis and the nitric oxide production were also studied by performing prostaglandins E(2) immunoassay and by detecting nitric oxide.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present results showed that amygdalin suppressed the prostaglandin E(2) synthesis and the nitric oxide production by inhibiting the LPS-stimulated mRNA expressions of COX-2 and iNOS in the mouse BV2 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that amygdalin exerts anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects and it dose so probably by suppressing the mRNA expressions of COX-2 and iNOS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hyun-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jin-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young-Sick
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myoung-Hwa
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mal-Soon
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Dae-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ham
authors.forename: Hun-Kuk
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyejung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang-Ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000678:Amygdalin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D000678:Amygdalin; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D015232:Dinoprostone