title: The anti-inflammatory potential of Cortex Phellodendron in vivo and in vitro: down-regulation of NO and iNOS through suppression of NF-κB and MAPK activation.
abstract: Cortex Phellodendri amurensis (CPA), derived from the dried bark of Phellodendron amurense Rupr., is a traditional medicine widely used to treat various inflammation-related diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity and molecular mechanism of CPA in vivo and in vitro. Mice were pretreated with CPA (200 mg/kg, p.o.) for three consecutive days; 2h after the last CPA treatment, mice were intraperitoneally injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce endotoxemia (35 mg/kg). After treatment, we assessed survival rate, protein levels and cytokine expression. In addition, we confirmed the molecular mechanism of anti-inflammatory effects of CPA in LPS-stimulated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The results showed that CPA significantly increased mice survival rates and down-regulated LPS-induced interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and macrophage chemo-attractant protein (MCP)-1 in serum. In addition, CPA inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB by degradation and phosphorylation of IκBα, and attenuated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs; ERK 1/2, p38 and JNK) from mice challenged with LPS. Moreover, in RAW 264.7 cells, CPA dose-dependently down-regulated LPS-stimulated NO, iNOS expression, as well as inflammatory cytokines and protein expression, consistent with the results in vivo. The anti-inflammatory properties of CPA in vitro and in vivo suggest its utility for attenuating inflammation-related diseases.
authors: College of Korean Medicine and Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: You Yeon
authors: YY
authors: Choi
authors: College of Korean Medicine and Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Mi Hye
authors: MH
authors: Kim
authors: College of Korean Medicine and Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jae Min
authors: JM
authors: Han
authors: College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jongki
authors: J
authors: Hong
authors: Formulae Pharmacology Department, School of Oriental Medicine, Gachon University, Seong-Nam, Kyunggi-Do, Republic of Korea.
authors: Tae-Hee
authors: TH
authors: Lee
authors: Cancer Preventive Material Development Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sung-Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Kim
authors: College of Korean Medicine and Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: wmyang@khu.ac.kr.
authors: Woong Mo
authors: WM
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001599:Berberine / Q000032:analysis; D002460:Cell Line; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D032102:Phellodendron / Q000737:chemistry; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D001599:Berberine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Cytokine; Inflammation; Lipopolysaccharide (LPS); Phellodendron amurense