Saengmaeksan inhibits inflammatory mediators by suppressing RIP-2/caspase-1 activation.
OBJECTIVE
Saengmaeksan (SMS) is a Korean herbal prescription consisting of three different herbal drugs: Liriopis Tuber (tuber of Liriope platyphylla, Liliaceae), Ginseng Radix (root of Panax ginseng) and Schisandrae Fructus (fruit of Schisandra chinensis). SMS is commonly used in Korea to treat various diseases that involve the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. However, to date, the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of SMS is not clearly understood. In this study, we attempt to determine the effects of SMS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in mouse peritoneal macrophages.


METHODS
Cell viability was measured by using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured by using Griess reagent. The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 levels secreted by the cells were measured using a modified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), respectively was investigated using a western blot analysis. A caspase colorimetric assay kit was used to assay enzymatic caspase-1 activity.


RESULTS
The findings of this study showed that SMS reduced TNF-α and IL-6 production induced by LPS. During the inflammatory process, COX-2 and NO levels were increased in mouse peritoneal macrophages, but SMS decreased the enhanced levels of COX-2 and the production of NO. In addition, SMS suppressed the activation of NF-κB and receptor interacting protein-2/caspase-1.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results provide novel insights into the pharmacological actions of SMS, a molecule that can potentially be exploited in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
College of Korean Medicine, Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Mi-Young
MY
Jeong
Dae-Hee
DH
Park
Min-Cheol
MC
Kim
Jinbong
J
Park
Dae-Seung
DS
Kim
Yong-Deok
YD
Jeon
Su-Jin
SJ
Kim
Kwang Seok
KS
Ahn
Sung-Hoon
SH
Kim
Jong-Hyun
JH
Lee
Hyun-Ju
HJ
Jung
Seung-Heon
SH
Hong
Jae-Young
JY
Um
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D029001:Herbal Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007723:Korea; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D053475:Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinase 2; D053422:Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D053475:Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinase 2; D053422:Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C506255:Ripk2 protein, mouse; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase; D020170:Caspase 1