title: Aged red garlic extract reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages and acute pulmonary inflammation through haeme oxygenase-1 induction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is known that garlic has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Aged red garlic (ARG), a novel aged garlic formulation, has higher antioxidant effects than fresh raw garlic. This study was performed to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of ARG extract (ARGE).
  
  
  METHODS
  The anti-inflammatory effects of ARGE were evaluated in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated Raw 264.7 macrophages and acute lung inflammatory mice. NO production was determined by the Griess method, and iNOS, HO-1 and COX-2 expressions were measured using Western blot analysis. Histology and inflammation extent of lung were analysed using haematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ARGE treatment markedly reduced LPS-induced nitrite production in RAW 264.7 macrophages and reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. Treatment of cells with ARGE led to a significant increase in haeme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein expression, which was mediated by stimulating the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Treatment with zinc protoporphyrin, a selective inhibitor of HO-1, significantly reversed the ARGE-mediated inhibition of nitrite production (P < 0.05). In LPS-induced inflammatory mice, ARGE treatment down-regulated iNOS and COX-2 expressions, while it up-regulated HO-1 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that ARGE reduces LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages through HO-1 induction and suggest that ARGE may have potential effects on prevention and treatment of acute inflammatory lung injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, South Korea.
authors.forename: H-J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: N-J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005737:Garlic; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011524:Protoporphyrins; C017803:zinc protoporphyrin; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1