title: Anti-inflammatory effects of Rubus coreanus Miquel through inhibition of NF-κB and MAP Kinase.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rubus Coreanus Miquel (RCM), used as a traditional Korean medicine, reduces chronic inflammatory diseases such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. However, its mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we examine the anti-inflammatory effects of RCM and their possible mechanisms using RAW 264.7 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unripe RCM ethanol extract (UE), unripe RCM water extract (UH), ripe RCM ethanol extract (RE), and ripe RCM water extract (RH) were prepared. Inflammatory response was induced with LPS treatment, and expression of pro-inflammatory mediators (iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and NO and PGE2 productions were assessed. To determine the anti-inflammatory mechanism of RCM, we measured NF-κB and MAPK activities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  UE and UH treatment significantly reduced NF-κB activation and JNK and p38 phosphorylation and reduced transcriptional activities decreased iNOS, COX-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines expressions, and NO and PGE2 productions. RE and RH treatments reduced IL-1β and IL-6 expressions through suppressions of JNK and p38 phosphorylation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we showed that RCM had anti-inflammatory effects by suppression of pro-inflammatory mediator expressions. Especially, unripe RCM showed strong anti-inflammatory effects through suppression of NF-κB and MAPK activation. These findings suggest that unripe RCM might be used as a potential functional material to reduce chronic inflammatory responses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Home Economics Education, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Functional Food & Nutrition Division, Rural Development Administration, Gyeonggi 441-853, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Muk
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Home Economics Education, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Eunkyo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei Universiy, Seoul 120-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Korea.
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science & Technology, Chung-Ang University, Gyeonggi 456-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Joong Hyuck
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Auh
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Kyoon
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Sohee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Home Economics Education, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Cytokines; MAPK; NF-κB; Rubus coreanus Miquel; inflammation