Inhibition of microglial neurotoxicity by ethanol extract of Artemisia asiatica Nakai.
Artemisia asiatica Nakai has been used for the treatment of infections and inflammatory disorders in traditional Oriental medicine. Previously, an ethanol extract of A. asiatica has been shown to exert antioxidative and antiinflammatory activities and to exhibit protective effects against experimentally induced damage in the gastrointestinal system, liver and pancreas. This study examined whether the ethanol extract of A. asiatica affects inflammatory activation of microglia in the central nervous system, and whether the antiinflammatory activity of A. asiatica is related to neuroprotective effects. The extract of A. asiatica inhibited inflammatory activation of mouse microglial cells as determined by the production of nitric oxide and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and inflammatory cytokine. The extract also protected nerve growth factor-differentiated PC12 cells against microglial cytotoxicity, indicating that the ethanol extract of A. asiatica may be neuroprotective by inhibiting microglial neurotoxicity.
Lim
Beong Ou
BO
Department of Life Science, College of Biomedical & Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea.
Chung
Hae Gon
HG
Lee
Won-Ha
WH
Lee
Ho Won
HW
Suk
Kyoungho
K
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D019306:Artemisia / Q000737:chemistry*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009573:Nitrites; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000431:Ethanol; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II