Amygdalin suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in mouse BV2 microglial cells.
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.
Yang
Hye-Young
HY
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
Chang
Hyun-Kyung
HK
Lee
Jin-Woo
JW
Kim
Young-Sick
YS
Kim
Hong
H
Lee
Myoung-Hwa
MH
Shin
Mal-Soon
MS
Ham
Dae-Hyun
DH
Park
Hun-Kuk
HK
Lee
Hyejung
H
Kim
Chang-Ju
CJ
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
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