The production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 in peritoneal macrophages is inhibited by Andrographis paniculata, Angelica sinensis and Morus alba ethyl acetate fractions.
OBJECTIVE
Traditional Chinese medicine herbs (TCMHs) are used in medicines as well as in daily dietary supplements in Asia. In this study, we employed pNF-kappaB-Luc or pIFN-gamma-Luc and BALB/c mice peritoneal macrophages or splenocytes to investigate both the immune and inflammatory effects of six selected plant species.


METHODS
Specifically, we used ethyl acetate fractions of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge var. mongholicus (Bunge) Hsiao (Fabaceae) (AM), Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees (Acanthaceae) (AP), Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Apiaceae) (AS), Eucommia ulmodes Oliv. (Eucommiaceae) leaves (EU leaves), Isatis indigotica Fort. (Brassicaceae) (II) and Morus alba L. (Moraceae) (MA).


RESULTS
We found that ethyl acetate fractions of AP, AS and MA significantly decreased NF-kappaB luciferase activity and also the secretion of NO and PGE(2) in LPS/IFN-gamma stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages (p<0.05). In contrast, they did not affect IFN-gamma luciferase activity or IFN-gamma production in concanavalin A (Con A)-activated mouse splenocytes. Our results indicated that the anti-inflammatory properties of these plant extracts might be resulted from the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators (e.g., NO and PGE(2)), at least in part via suppression of a signaling pathway such as NF-kappaB.


CONCLUSIONS
Collectively, we have found that three potent bioactive TCMH species exerted significant NF-kappaB inhibitory activity and acted in a cell type dependent fashion.
Chao
Wen-Wan
WW
Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, Institute of Microbiology and Biochemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan, ROC.
Kuo
Yueh-Hsiung
YH
Li
Wei-Chu
WC
Lin
Bi-Fong
BF
D035685:Andrographis; D029971:Angelica sinensis; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008934:Mitogens; D031625:Morus; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008934:Mitogens; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008156:Luciferases; D015232:Dinoprostone