title: Boehmeria nivea attenuates LPS-induced inflammatory markers by inhibiting p38 and JNK phosphorylations in RAW264.7 macrophages.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Boehmeria nivea (Linn.) Gaudich (Urticaceae), a natural herb, has a long history of treating several diseases including wound healing. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of B. nivea has not been investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated whether the 70% ethanol extract of B. nivea (Ebn) can exert anti-inflammatory activity. Several phenolic compounds of extracts were determined to provide further information on the correlation between anti-inflammatory effects and phenolic compounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prepared a 70% ethanol extract of B. nivea leaves and evaluated its anti-inflammatory activity (200, 400, 800, 1200 µg/mL) by measuring the secretions of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), which were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.7 macrophages. The total phenolic compounds were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and major compounds were determined by HPLC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ebn was able to abolish the LPS-induced secretions of NO, TNF-α and IL-6. It also decreased the protein levels (IC₅₀ = 186 µg/mL) of LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The LPS stimulated p38, JNK and ERK phosphorylations significantly more than the controls. Surprisingly, although Ebn reduced p38 and JNK phosphorylations, it did not influence ERK phosphorylation. We found that Ebn revealed several major compounds such as chlorogenic acid (1.96 mg/100 g), rutin (46.48 mg/100 g), luteolin-7-glucoside (11.29 mg/100 g), naringin (1.13 mg/100 g), hesperidin (23.69 mg/100 g) and tangeretin (1.59 mg/100 g).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Boehmeria nivea exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on macrophages by inhibiting p38 and JNK, suggesting that it may be used as a functional ingredient against inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Jeong
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Munkhtugs
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davaatseren
authors.forename: Sung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin-Taek
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032402:Boehmeria / Q000737:chemistry*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D005960:Glucosides / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D055670:Medicine, Korean Traditional; D051379:Mice; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects; D056910:Republic of Korea; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002934:Cinnamates; D005419:Flavonoids; D005960:Glucosides; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; D048055:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases