title: Anti-inflammatory function of arctiin by inhibiting COX-2 expression via NF-κB pathways.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arctiin, isolated from Forsythia suspensa has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral effects in vitro. However, there has been a lack of studies regarding its effects on immunological activity. The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential and possible mechanisms of arctiin in LPS-induced macrophages.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines through RT-PCR and western blot analysis, followed by a FACS analysis for surface molecule changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Arctiin dose dependently decreased the production of NO and proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and PGE2, and it reduced the gene and protein levels as determined by RT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. The expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as B7-1 and B7-2 were also inhibited by arctiin. Furthermore, the activation of the nuclear transcription factor, NF-κB in macrophages was inhibited by arctiin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together these results provide evidence of the bioactivity of arctiin in inflammatory diseases and suggest that arctiin may exert anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the pro-inflammatory mediators through the inactivation of NF-kB.
authors: College of Pharmacy, SahmYook University, Seoul 139-742, Republic of Korea. kimkj@syu.ac.kr.
authors: Sungwon
authors: S
authors: Lee
authors: Seulmee
authors: S
authors: Shin
authors: Hyunyul
authors: H
authors: Kim
authors: Shinha
authors: S
authors: Han
authors: Kwanghee
authors: K
authors: Kim
authors: Jeunghak
authors: J
authors: Kwon
authors: Jin-Hwan
authors: JH
authors: Kwak
authors: Chong-Kil
authors: CK
authors: Lee
authors: Nam-Joo
authors: NJ
authors: Ha
authors: Dongsool
authors: D
authors: Yim
authors: Kyungjae
authors: K
authors: Kim