title: Antiinflammatory effects in THP-1 cells treated with verbascoside.
abstract: Verbascum thapsus commonly known as 'mullein' is part of a large family of Scrophulariaceae consisting of more than 360 species. From antiquity Verbascum thapsus has been used as a medicinal herb, it contains diverse polysaccharides, iroid glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, volatile oils and phenylentanoids. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) represents one of the three isoforms that produce nitric oxide using L-arginine as a substrate in response to an increase in superoxide anion activated by NF-kB. It is implicated in different pathophysiological events and its expression increases greatly during an inflammatory process, due to oxidative stress and the activation of the enzymes of the antioxidant network such as SOD, CAT and GPx.In this study an inflammatory state was reproduced by treating THP-1 cells (human myelomonocytic leukaemia) with pro-inflammatory stimuli, such as LPS and IFN-gamma, obtaining an up-regulation both in the expression and in the activity of iNOS. The aim of the work was to investigate the antiinflammatory action of verbascoside using a concentration of 100 mum. The results show a significant decrease of the expression and activity of iNOS, extracellular O(2) (-) production, SOD, CAT and GPx activity when the cells were treated with verbascoside. Based on these results it is hypothesized that verbascoside has antiinflammatory properties since it reduces the production of superoxide radicals and consequently reduces the activity of iNOS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomorphology, University 'G. d'Annunzio', Chieti, Italy. l.speranza@unich.it
authors.forename: Lorenza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Speranza
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franceschelli
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pesce
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reale
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Menghini
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vinciguerra
authors.forename: Maria Anna
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Lutiis
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Felaco
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grilli
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D032265:Verbascum / Q000737:chemistry*; D059808:Polyphenols
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002374:Catalase; D005609:Free Radicals; D005960:Glucosides; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D010100:Oxygen; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C058956:acteoside; D059808:Polyphenols