Vanillic acid inhibits inflammatory mediators by suppressing NF-κB in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages.
Vanillic acid is a benzoic acid derivative that is used as a flavoring agent. It is an oxidized form of vanillin. At present, the mechanisms by which vanillic acid exerts its anti-inflammatory effects are incompletely understood. In this study, we attempted to determine the effects of vanillic acid on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Our findings indicate that vanillic acid inhibits LPS-induced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6. During the inflammatory process, the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and nitric oxide (NO) increased in mouse peritoneal macrophages, but vanillic acid suppressed both the enhanced levels of COX-2 and the production of prostaglandin E(2) and NO. Moreover, vanillic acid suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and caspase-1. These results provide novel insights into the pharmacological actions of vanillic acid and are indicative of the potential use of this molecule in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Department of Oriental Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang Oriental Medicines Research Institute, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea.
Min-Cheol
MC
Kim
Su-Jin
SJ
Kim
Dae-Seung
DS
Kim
Yong-Deok
YD
Jeon
Sung Joo
SJ
Park
Ho Sub
HS
Lee
Jae-Young
JY
Um
Seung-Heon
SH
Hong
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D014641:Vanillic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D020170:Caspase 1; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014641:Vanillic Acid; D000093242:Interleukin-6 Inhibitors; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse