The anti-inflammatory effects of Pyrolae herba extract through the inhibition of the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and NO production.
The extract of Pyrolae herba (PH), which has been used as an anti-inflammatory folk remedy in Korea and China, was investigated for its anti-inflammatory action using arachidonic acid, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate or carrageenan-induced edema assays. The anti-nociceptive activity of PH was also tested in mice using the acetic acid-induced writhing model. PH showed dose-dependent and significant (P<0.05 at 100-400mg/kg) anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities in the animal assays. The mechanism of the activities of PH was examined by testing the extract to determine if it inhibits the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the production of nitric oxide (NO) from the murine macrophages, RAW 264.7 cells. Similar to the in vivo activities, both the iNOS expression and NO production were significantly suppressed by PH in a dose-dependent manner. PH also inhibited the activating phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase and NF-kappaB in these cells. These results provide a scientific basis to explain the effects of PH as an anti-inflammatory folk remedy in Asian countries.
Lee
Mu Hong
MH
Life Science R&D Center, Sinil Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Chungju 380-862, Republic of Korea.
Lee
Jeong Min
JM
Jun
Sung Hoon
SH
Lee
Seung Ha
SH
Kim
Nam Wook
NW
Lee
Jun Ho
JH
Ko
Na Young
NY
Mun
Se Hwan
SH
Kim
Bo Kyung
BK
Lim
Beong Ou
BO
Choi
Dong Kug
DK
Choi
Wahn Soo
WS
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002681:China; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D007723:Korea; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010936:Plant Extracts; D031828:Pyrola; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II