title: Protopine reduces the inflammatory activity of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated murine macrophages.
abstract: Protopine is an isoquinoline alkaloid contained in plants in northeast Asia. In this study, we investigated whether protopine derived from Hypecoum erectum L could suppress lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in murine macrophages (Raw 264.7 cells). Protopine was found to reduce nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production by LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells, without a cytotoxic effect. Pre-treatment of Raw 264.7 cells with protopine reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These inhibitory effects were caused by blocking phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases) and also blocking activation of a nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology Education, College of Education, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Korea.
authors.forename: Deok Sung
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Young Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Cheol-Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Chu Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Nho
authors.forename: Javzan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Samdan
authors.forename: Jamyansan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yansan
authors.forename: Jae Kown
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053119:Benzophenanthridines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001600:Berberine Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D028101:Papaveraceae / Q000737:chemistry; D010766:Phosphorylation
chemical_list: D053119:Benzophenanthridines; D001600:Berberine Alkaloids; D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D015232:Dinoprostone; C009093:protopine