Inhibitory effect of saponin fraction from Codonopsis lanceolata on immune cell-mediated inflammatory responses.
Saponin components are known to be pharmaceutically, cosmetically and nutraceutically valuable principles found in various herbal medicine. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory role of saponin fraction (SF), prepared from C. lanceolata, an ethnopharmacologically famous plant, on various inflammatory responses managed by monocytes, macrophages, lymphocytes and mast cells. SF clearly suppressed the release of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, but not prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). While this fraction did not scavenge the reactivity of SNP-induced radicals in RAW264. 7 cells, it negatively modulated the phagocytic uptake of macrophages treated with FITC-dextran. Interestingly, SF completely diminished cell-cell adhesion events induced by both CD29 and CD43, but not cell-fibronectin adhesion. Concanavalin (Con) A [as well phytohemaglutinin A (PHA)]-induced proliferation of splenic lymphocytes as well as interferon (IFN)-gamma production were also clearly suppressed by SF treatment. Finally, SF also significantly blocked the degranulation process of mast cell line RBL-2H3 cell as assessed by DNP-BSA-induced beta-hexosaminidase activity. The anti-inflammatory activities of SF on NO production seemed to be due to inhibition of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation signaling, since it blocked the phosphorylation of inhibitor of kappaB (IkappaB)alpha as well as inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression. Therefore, these results suggest that SF may be considered as a promising herbal medicine with potent anti-inflammatory actions.
Byeon
Se Eun
SE
School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, and Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200-701, Korea.
Choi
Wahn Soo
WS
Hong
Eock Kee
EK
Lee
Jaehwi
J
Rhee
Man Hee
MH
Park
Hwa-Jin
HJ
Cho
Jae Youl
JY
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D029745:Codonopsis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012503:Saponins