Inhibitory effect of eupatilin and jaceosidin isolated from Artemisia princeps on carrageenan-induced inflammation in mice.
BACKGROUND
Artemisia princeps Pampanini (family Asteraceae) is an herbal medicine widely used as a hepatoprotective, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial agent in Korea, China, and Japan.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effect of the main constituents, eupatilin and jaceosidin, isolated from Artemisia princeps.


METHODS
We used carrageenan-induced inflammation in an air pouch on the back of mice and carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in rats to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of eupatilin and jaceosidin. Inflammatory makers, such as expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB), were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoblot analyses.


RESULTS
Eupatilin and jaceosidin blocked carrageenan-induced increase in leukocyte number and protein levels in air pouch exudates. Eupatilin and jaceosidin inhibited COX-2 expression and NF-kappaB activation, and markedly reduced TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)) levels. They also inhibited hind paw edema induced by carrageenan. Eupatilin and jaceosidin had similar activity.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that eupatilin and jaceosidin may reduce inflammation by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation, and that Artemisia princeps inhibits inflammation because of these constituents.
Min
Sung-Won
SW
Department of Life and Nanopharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Nam-Jae
NJ
Baek
Nam-In
NI
Kim
Dong-Hyun
DH
D000818:Animals; D019306:Artemisia / Q000737:chemistry*; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D016207:Cytokines; D005419:Flavonoids; D016328:NF-kappa B; C477508:jaceosidin; C045325:eupatilin; D002351:Carrageenan; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2