title: Inhibitory effects of (-)-α-bisabolol on LPS-induced inflammatory response in RAW264.7 macrophages.
abstract: Although (-)-α-bisabolol, a natural monocyclic sesquiterpene alcohol, is often used as a cosmetic soothing supplement, little is known about its mechanisms of anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate anti-inflammatory effects of (-)-α-bisabolol and its mechanisms of action. In this study, we found that (-)-α-bisabolol inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) genes was reduced, as evidenced by Western blot and luciferase reporter assays for COX-2 and iNOS. To assess the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory property of (-)-α-bisabolol, its effects on the activity of AP-1 and NF-κB promoters were examined. LPS-induced activation of AP-1 and NF-κB promoters was significantly reduced by (-)-α-bisabolol. Consistently, (-)-α-bisabolol reduced LPS-induced phosphorylation of IκBα. In addition, while LPS-induced phosphorylation of ERK and p38 was attenuated by (-)-α-bisabolol, significant changes in the level of phosphorylated JNK were not observed. Our results indicate that (-)-α-bisabolol exerts anti-inflammatory effects by downregulating expression of iNOS and COX-2 genes through inhibition of NF-κB and AP-1 (ERK and p38) signaling.
authors.affiliation: Biospectrum Life Science Institute, Eines Platz 11th FL, 442-13 Sangdaewon Dong, Seoungnam City, 462-807 Gyunggi Do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seungbeom
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eunsun
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jang-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jongsung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Deokhoon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D000081222:Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D000081222:Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009573:Nitrites; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; C004497:bisabolol; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone