title: Licochalcone a inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: Licochalcone A (Lico A), a flavonoid found in licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), is known for its antimicrobial activity and its reported ability to inhibit cancer cell proliferation. In the present study, we found that Lico A exerted potent anti-inflammatory effects in in vitro and in vivo models induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The concentrations of TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β in the culture supernatants of RAW 264.7 cells were determined at different time points following LPS administration. LPS (0.5 mg/kg) was instilled intranasally (i.n.) in phosphate-buffered saline to induce acute lung injury, and 24 h after LPS was given, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was obtained to measure pro-inflammatory mediator and total cell counts. The phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 protein was analyzed by Western blotting. Our results showed that Lico A significantly reduced the amount of inflammatory cells, the lung wet-to-dry weight (W/D) ratio, protein leakage, and myeloperoxidase activity and enhances oxidase dimutase activity in mice with LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results indicated that Lico A can significantly down-regulate TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels in vitro and in vivo, and treatment with Lico A significantly attenuated alveolar wall thickening, alveolar hemorrhage, interstitial edema, and inflammatory cells infiltration in mice with ALI. In addition, we further demonstrated that Lico A exerts an anti-inflammation effect in an in vivo model of acute lung injury through suppression of NF-κB activation and p38/ERK MAPK signaling in a dose-dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Xinxin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ci
authors.forename: Miaomiao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Qingjun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Mingfeng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Hongyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yanhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Haihua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Xuming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D055371:Acute Lung Injury / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002460:Cell Line; D047188:Chalcones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006035:Glycyrrhiza / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D047188:Chalcones; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C070840:licochalcone A