title: Anti-inflammatory effects of maslinic acid, a natural triterpene, in cultured cortical astrocytes via suppression of nuclear factor-kappa B.
abstract: Maslinic acid (2-α, 3-β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid) is a natural triterpenoid compound from Olea europaea. This compound prevents oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine generation in vitro. This study was planned to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of maslinic acid in central nervous system by using rat astrocyte cultures stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We evaluated different proteins implicated in the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signal transducer pathway employing Western blot and quantitative real time PCR techniques. Results demonstrated that maslinic acid treatment exerted potent anti-inflammatory action by inhibiting the production of Nitric Oxide and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Western blot analysis showed that maslinic acid treatment attenuated LPS-induced translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit to the nucleus and prevented LPS-induced IκBα phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner, Moreover, maslinic acid significantly suppressed the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) at protein and mRNA levels. These results suggest that maslinic acid can potentially reduce neuroinflammation by inhibiting NF-κB signal transducer pathway in cultured cortical astrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tongjiaxiang Street, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
authors.forename: Longfei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Yisong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Menghao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xuzhen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Yunman
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hongbin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014315:Triterpenes; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C412811:maslinic acid; D009828:Oleanolic Acid