Apigenin inhibits the production of NO and PGE2 in microglia and inhibits neuronal cell death in a middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced focal ischemia mice model.
Flavonoids have been intensively studied on their pharmacological activities such as anti-cancer, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation. However, little is known about their neuroprotective effects. Recent studies suggest that inflammation mediated by microglia may play a role in neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of various flavonoid compounds by using BV-2, a murine microglia cell line. Of the compounds that were evaluated, apigenin inhibited the production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E(2) by suppressing the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 protein, respectively. Moreover, apigenin suppressed p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation without affecting the activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Apigenin was also found to protect neuronal cells from injury in middle cerebral artery occlusion.
Ha
Sang Keun
SK
Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, #1 Seocheon-dong, Kihung-ku, Yongin-City, Kyungki-Do 449-701, Republic of Korea.
Lee
Pyeongjae
P
Park
Jeong A
JA
Oh
Hye Rim
HR
Lee
Sang Yeon
SY
Park
Ji-Ho
JH
Lee
Eunjoo H
EH
Ryu
Jong Hoon
JH
Lee
Kang Ro
KR
Kim
Sun Yeou
SY
D000818:Animals; D047310:Apigenin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism
D005419:Flavonoids; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D047310:Apigenin; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D015232:Dinoprostone