title: Anti-inflammatory effects of Polygala tenuifolia root through inhibition of NF-κB activation in lipopolysaccharide-induced BV2 microglial cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The root of Polygala tenuifolia Willd is a well-known traditional Oriental medicine and has been prescribed for treatment of dysfunction in memorial systems and various brain inflammatory diseases. The present study was designed to validate the anti-inflammatory effects of the water extract of Polygala tenuifolia root (WEPT).
  
  
  METHODS
  The anti-inflammatory properties of WEPT were studied using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine BV2 microglia model. As inflammatory parameters, the production of nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-1β were evaluated. We also examined the extract's effect on the activity of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (Myd-88) expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WEPT suppressed LPS-induced production of NO, PGE(2), and expression of iNOS and COX-2 in a dose-dependent manner, without causing cytotoxicity. It also significantly reduced generation of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β and TNF-α. In addition, WEPT suppressed NF-κB translocation by blockade of IkappaB-α (IκB-α) degradation and inhibited TLR4 and Myd-88 expression in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that the inhibitory effects of WEPT on LPS-stimulated inflammatory mediator production in BV2 microglia are associated with suppression of the NF-κB and toll-like receptor signaling pathways. Therefore, Polygala tenuifolia extracts may be useful in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases by inhibition of inflammatory mediator production in activated microglia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, College of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Myung-Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Sang-Ryong
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hwa-Seung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Jin-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Gi-Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Wun-Jae
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In-Chul
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Yung Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / Q000378:metabolism; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D031801:Polygala / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C507780:Myd88 protein, mouse; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; D016328:NF-kappa B; C000606205:Nfkbia protein, mouse; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012997:Solvents; C493487:Tlr4 protein, mouse; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C433788:lipopolysaccharide, E. coli O26-B6; D014867:Water; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone