title: Myrrh mediates haem oxygenase-1 expression to suppress the lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in RAW264.7 macrophages.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate a novel anti-inflammatory mechanism of myrrh against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  RAW264.7 macrophages were cultured in DMEM and then cells were treated with LPS or LPS plus a myrrh methanol extract (MME) for 24h. The culture medium was collected for determination of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin (PG)E(2) , interleukin (IL)-1β, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and cells were harvested by lysis buffer for Western blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data showed that treatment with the MME (1∼100µg/ml) did not cause cytotoxicity or activate haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein synthesis in RAW264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, the MME inhibited LPS-stimulated NO, PGE(2) , IL-1β and TNF-α release and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 protein expression. Zn(II) protoporphyrin IX, a specific inhibitor of HO-1, blocked the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expression by the MME.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that among mechanisms of the anti-inflammatory response, the MME inhibited the production of NO, PGE(2) , IL-1β and TNF-α by downregulating iNOS and COX-2 gene expression in macrophages and worked through the action of HO-1.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Khoot-Peng
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Cheah
authors.forename: Che-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Joe-Sharg
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-Yu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ming Long
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Geng-Chang
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Sheng-Hsuan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheuk-Sing
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Choy
authors.forename: Chien-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D029744:Commiphora; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1