title: Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression by an acetonic extract from Feijoa sellowiana Berg. fruits.
abstract: Feijoa sellowiana Berg. fruits and especially the acetonic extract have been shown to possess biological activities, although the responsible compounds have never been identified. The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of an acetonic extract from F. sellowiana Berg. fruits on the nitric oxide (NO) pathway, which plays an important role in inflammation. To this aim the J774 cell line, which expresses inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) following stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), has been utilized, and the effects of this extract and its fractions on NO production, iNOS protein expression, and signal pathways involved in its regulation have been evaluated. This study demonstrates that at least some part of the anti-inflammatory activity of the acetonic extract is due to the suppression of NO production by flavone and stearic acid. The mechanism of this inhibition seems to be related to an action on the expression of the enzyme iNOS through the attenuation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and/or mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rigano
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pergola
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Formisano
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: Placido
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bramanti
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Senatore
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sautebin
mesh_terms: D000096:Acetone; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031646:Feijoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000096:Acetone; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases