Inhibitory effect of citral on NO production by suppression of iNOS expression and NF-kappa B activation in RAW264.7 cells.
Citral is a major compound of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus L.) that has many pharmacological activities such as anti-fungal and anti-bacterial effects. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of citral and defined its mechanism of action in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Citral (3-12 microg/mL) significantly inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50: 6.5 microg/mL). Furthermore, it was found that citral effectively inhibited the transcriptional activity and expression of iNOS, and potently suppressed the DNA binding activity and nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B as well as I kappa B phosphorylation in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that citral is anti-inflammatory, and its effects may be due to the inhibition of NO production through the suppression of NF-kappa B activation.
Lee
Hwa Jeong
HJ
College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, 48, Gaeshin-dong, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763, Korea.
Jeong
Heon Sang
HS
Kim
Dae Joong
DJ
Noh
Young Hee
YH
Yuk
Dong Yeon
DY
Hong
Jin Tae
JT
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004794:Enzyme Repression; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014162:Transfection
D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D039821:Monoterpenes; D016328:NF-kappa B; C000606205:Nfkbia protein, mouse; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D004247:DNA; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C007076:citral