title: Traditionally used Veronica officinalis inhibits proinflammatory mediators via the NF-κB signalling pathway in a human lung cell line.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Extracts from Veronica officinalis L. are traditionally used for the treatment of lung diseases; however, the effective compounds and the mode of action are still unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Here we analyzed the effects of a standardized Veronica extract on genes expression and signalling protein production associated with the development of inflammatory lung diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The degranulation capacity of primary mast cells, as well as gene expression and release of inflammatory mediators from human lung epithelial cells (A549 cells) were analyzed in relation to the synthetic drugs azelastine and dexamethasone. Gene and protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 were investigated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. The involvement of phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases and NF-κB signaling in regulation of these molecules were characterized by western blotting and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Characteristic extract components were identified by LC-MS and verminoside was quantified by HPLC analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrated that Veronica officinalis has a small influence on the degranulation capacity of mast cells but rather inhibits gene and protein expression of the chemokine eotaxin in A549 lung epithelial cells, which is essential for recruitment of inflammatory-associated cells in lung diseases. Furthermore, release of the inflammatory mediator PGE(2) was diminished through inhibition of COX-2 expression via the NF-κB signaling pathway in TNF-α-activated A549 cells. Phytochemical analysis identified verproside and verminoside as the most abundant iridoid glycosides.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results are a contribution to explaining the observed anti-inflammatory effects of Veronica offcinalis extract on a molecular level. However, its clinical potency has at first to be proven in animals and subsequently in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Center for Complementary Medicine, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University Medical Center Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 115B, 79111 Freiburg, Germany. carsten.gruendemann@uniklinik-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gründemann
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garcia-Käufer
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: Evi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stangenberg
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Könczöl
authors.forename: Irmgard
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Merfort
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zehl
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides / Q000032:analysis; D039823:Iridoids / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010793:Phthalazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D032264:Veronica / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides; D039823:Iridoids; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010793:Phthalazines; D010936:Plant Extracts; C506490:verminoside; C512483:verproside; D003907:Dexamethasone; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C020976:azelastine