title: Anti-inflammatory effects of saponins derived from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorus in lipopolysaccharide‑stimulated BV2 microglial cells.
abstract: Radix platycodi is the root of Platycodon grandiflorus A. DC, which has been widely used as a food material and for the treatment of a number of chronic inflammatory diseases in traditional oriental medicine. In this study, the anti‑inflammatory effects of the saponins isolated from radix platycodi (PGS) on the production of inflammatory mediators and cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 murine microglial cells were examined. We also investigated the effects of PGS on LPS‑induced nuclear factor‑κB (NF-κB) activation and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Following stimulation with LPS, elevated nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and pro-inflammatory cytokine production was detected in the BV2 microglial cells. However, PGS significantly inhibited the excessive production of NO, PGE2 and pro‑inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in a concentration-dependent manner without causing any cytotoxic effects. In addition, PGS suppressed NF-κB translocation and inhibited the LPS-induced phosphorylation of AKT and MAPKs. Our results indicate that the inhibitory effect of PGS on LPS-stimulated inflammatory response in BV2 microglial cells is associated with the suppression of NF-κB activation and the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. Therefore, these findings suggest that PGS may be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases by inhibiting inflammatory responses in activated microglial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dongeui University College of Oriental Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Jun
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Hong Ki
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: You Na
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Hyun-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Yoon Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Gi Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Byung Woo
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yung Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D031238:Platycodon / Q000737:chemistry; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012503:Saponins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D015232:Dinoprostone