title: Astragali Radix elicits anti-inflammation via activation of MKP-1, concomitant with attenuation of p38 and Erk.
abstract: Although Astragali Radix (Astragalus, AR), the root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch) Bunge, is widely used in oriental medicine for tonifying the immune response and improving circulation, the underlying mechanism(s) by which these effects are induced remains unclear. Here, we report that AR displays anti-inflammatory effects in zymosan air-pouch mice by reducing the expression of iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha and by decreasing the production of nitric oxide (NO). In a similar manner, AR reduces the expression of IL-6, iNOS, and COX-2 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated Raw 264.7 cells. We further demonstrate that AR attenuates the activity of p38 and Erk1/2 and stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) in LPS-treated Raw 264.7 cells. Additionally, AR interferes with the translocation of NFkappaB to the nucleus, subsequently resulting in NFkappaB-dependent transcriptional repression. Taken together, these data reveal that AR has an anti-inflammatory effect that is mediated by the MKP-1-dependent inactivation of p38 and Erk1/2 and inhibition of NFkappaB-mediated transcription. These results imply that the AR herb has a potential anti-inflammatory activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Ajou University, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Minsook
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Eun Hye
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mison
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Seunghee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Bumsang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Young-Beob
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Gajin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Jong-Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry*; D054638:Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D054638:Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1