Chamomile: an anti-inflammatory agent inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase expression by blocking RelA/p65 activity.
Chamomile has long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation-related disorders. In this study we investigated the inhibitory effects of chamomile on nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and explored its potential anti-inflammatory mechanisms using RAW 264.7 macrophages. Chamomile treatment inhibited LPS-induced NO production and significantly blocked IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα-induced NO levels in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Chamomile caused reduction in LPS-induced iNOS mRNA and protein expression. In RAW 264.7 macrophages, LPS-induced DNA binding activity of RelA/p65 was significantly inhibited by chamomile, an effect that was mediated through the inhibition of IKKβ, the upstream kinase regulating NF-κB/Rel activity, and degradation of inhibitory factor-κB. These results demonstrate that chamomile inhibits NO production and iNOS gene expression by inhibiting RelA/p65 activation and supports the utilization of chamomile as an effective anti-inflammatory agent.
Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
Natarajan
N
Bhaskaran
Sanjeev
S
Shukla
Janmejai K
JK
Srivastava
Sanjay
S
Gupta
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D020843:Chamomile / Q000737:chemistry*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; C498144:Rela protein, mouse; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse