title: Immunomodulatory Effects of Dioscoreae Rhizome Against Inflammation through Suppressed Production of Cytokines Via Inhibition of the NF-κB Pathway.
abstract: Dioscoreae Rhizome (DR) has been used in traditional medicine to treat numerous diseases and is reported to have anti-diabetes and anti-tumor activities. To identify a bioactive traditional medicine with anti-inflammatory activity of a water extract of DR (EDR), we determined the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages through RT-PCR and western blot analysis and performed a FACS analysis for measuring surface molecules. EDR dose-dependently decreased the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and PGE(2), as well as mRNA levels of iNOS, COX-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, as determined by western blot and RT-PCR analysis, respectively. The expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as B7-1 and B7-2 was also reduced by EDR. Furthermore, activation of the nuclear transcription factor, NF-κB, but not that of IL-4 and IL-10, in macrophages was inhibited by EDR. These results show that EDR decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines via inhibition of NF-κB-dependent inflammatory protein level, suggesting that EDR could be a useful immunomodulatory agent for treating immunological diseases.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 139-742, Korea.
authors.forename: Seulah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seulmee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Bobae
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hyun
authors.forename: Hyunseok
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Shinha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Aeri
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seungjeong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyungjae
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim