title: Anti-inflammatory activity of a water extract of Acorus calamus L. leaves on keratinocyte HaCaT cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acorus calamus L., sweet flag, is a well-known medicinal plant that grows worldwide wildly along swamps, rivers, and lakes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of Acorus calamus leaf (ACL) extract and to explore its mechanism of action on human keratinocyte HaCaT cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  HaCaT cells treated with polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) and peptidoglycan (PGN) induced the inflammatory reactions. The anti-inflammatory activities of ACL were investigated using RT-PCR, ELISA assay, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HaCaT cells induced the pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-8 (IL-8) and/or interleukin-6 (IL-6) expressions after treatment with polyI:C or PGN. ACL inhibited the expression of IL-8 and IL-6 RNA and protein levels, and attenuated the activation of NF-kappaB and IRF3 after polyI:C treatment. ACL also inhibited expression of IL-8 and activation of NF-kappaB following PGN induction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that ACL inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines through multiple mechanisms and may be a novel and effective anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of skin diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, BK21 Graduate Program for Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, 300 Yongbong-Dong, Buk-Gu, Gwangju 500-757, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Tae-Ho
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Seong-Gene
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D029023:Acorus; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010457:Peptidoglycan / Q000009:adverse effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000009:adverse effects; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3; D016209:Interleukin-8; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010457:Peptidoglycan; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011070:Poly I-C; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors