title: Morus alba and active compound oxyresveratrol exert anti-inflammatory activity via inhibition of leukocyte migration involving MEK/ERK signaling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Morus alba has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases; however, the scientific basis for such usage and the mechanism of action are not well understood. This study investigated the action of M. alba on leukocyte migration, one key step in inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and cluster analyses of supercritical CO2 extracts of three Morus species were performed for chemotaxonomy-aided plant authentication. Phytochemistry and CXCR4-mediated chemotaxis assays were used to characterize the chemical and biological properties of M. alba and its active compound, oxyresveratrol. fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and Western blot analyses were conducted to determine the mode of action of oxyresveratrol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chemotaxonomy was used to help authenticate M. alba. Chemotaxis-based isolation identified oxyresveratrol as an active component in M. alba. Phytochemical and chemotaxis assays showed that the crude extract, ethyl acetate fraction and oxyresveratrol from M. alba suppressed cell migration of Jurkat T cells in response to SDF-1. Mechanistic study indicated that oxyresveratrol diminished CXCR4-mediated T-cell migration via inhibition of the MEK/ERK signaling cascade.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A combination of GC-MS and cluster analysis techniques are applicable for authentication of the Morus species. Anti-inflammatory benefits of M. alba and its active compound, oxyresveratrol, may involve the inhibition of CXCR-4-mediated chemotaxis and MEK/ERK pathway in T and other immune cells.
authors: Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei 11501, Taiwan.
authors: Yi-Ching
authors: YC
authors: Chen
authors: Yin-Jing
authors: YJ
authors: Tien
authors: Chun-Houh
authors: CH
authors: Chen
authors: Francesca N
authors: FN
authors: Beltran
authors: Evangeline C
authors: EC
authors: Amor
authors: Ran-Juh
authors: RJ
authors: Wang
authors: Den-Jen
authors: DJ
authors: Wu
authors: Clément
authors: C
authors: Mettling
authors: Yea-Lih
authors: YL
authors: Lin
authors: Wen-Chin
authors: WC
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D031625:Morus / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013267:Stilbenes; C034912:puag-haad