title: The aerial part of Taraxacum coreanum extract has an anti-inflammatory effect on peritoneal macrophages in vitro and increases survival in a mouse model of septic shock.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Taraxacum coreanum Nakaiis a dandelion native to Korea and is widely consumed as an edible and medicinal herb. The aerial part of Taraxacum coreanum (TC) has been used therapeutically as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent, but its mechanism of action has not yet been evaluated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of a Taraxacum coreanum chloroform fraction(TCC) and its mechanisms of action in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Isolated mouse peritoneal macrophages were stimulated in vitro with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence or absence of TCC. The anti-inflammatory effects of TCC were assessed by measuring nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, as well as expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), IκBα, phospho-IKK, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT1). The effects of TCC were tested in vivo by measuring cytokine production and survival in a mouse model of lethal septic shock. And the standard compounds of Taraxacum coreanum were analyzed by HPLC using a C18 column.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of primary macrophages with TCC in vitro significantly inhibited all of the inflammatory parameters measured, including LPS-induced NO and PGE2 production, iNOS and COX-2 expression, IκBα degradation, IKK phosphorylation, and MAPK and STAT1 activation. In a mouse model of LPS-induced septic shock, TCC inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6, and increased survival by 83%.Standard compounds (gallic acid, syringic acid) of Taraxacum coreanum were qualified by HPLC analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TCC possesses potent anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo, which occurs at least partly through inhibition of proinflammatory signaling and mediator release. These results strongly support the therapeutic potential of TCC as an anti-inflammatory agent in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Herbology, College of Korean Medicine, Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Hwa
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hee
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Kyungjin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Gabsik
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Inhye
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ham
authors.forename: Youngmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.forename: Hocheol
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ho-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019659:Asteraceae; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009573:Nitrites; D010936:Plant Extracts; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494080:Stat1 protein, mouse; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone