title: Protective effect of the methanol extract from Cryptotaenia japonica Hassk. against lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In folk medicine, the aerial part of Crytotaenia japonica Hassk. (CJ), is applied for treatment of the common cold, cough, urinary problems, pneumonia, and skin rashes. In this paper, the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of CJ methanol extract was tested using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory models.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), and inflammatory cytokine levels from LPS-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. Also, several cellular signaling molecules which regulate the expressions of these inflammatory markers were examined. Finally, we tested whether oral administration of CJ methanol extract might affect the serum cytokine levels in LPS-injected mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CJ methanol extract reduced NO release via iNOS protein inhibition. The extract was also shown to decrease the secretions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-12. Analysis of signaling molecules showed that CJ inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT1, p38, JNK and ERK1/2 as well as IκBα degradation. Finally, CJ decreased the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS-injected mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrated the anti-inflammatory activity of CJ methanol extract and its possible underlying mechanisms that involve modulation of IκBα, MAPK, and STAT1 activities.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of East–west Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 446-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hee
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Tae-Sun
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.forename: Ji-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lew
authors.forename: Seok Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Eom
authors.forename: Kyungjin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ho-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019661:Apiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12