title: The anti-inflammatory activities of Ainsliaea fragrans Champ. extract and its components in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages through inhibition of NF-κB pathway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ainsliaea fragrans Champ. (A. fragrans) is a traditional Chinese herbal that contains components like 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. It exhibits anti-inflammatory activities which has been used for the treatment of gynecological diseases for many years in China. The aims of the present study were to investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of A. fragrans and elucidate the underlying mechanisms with regard to its molecular basis of action for the best component.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anti-inflammatory effects of A. fragrans were studied by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated activation of nitric oxide (NO) in mouse RAW264.7 macrophages. Expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, inhibitory κBα (IκBα) degradation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 were further investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study demonstrated that A. fragrans could suppress the production of NO in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Further investigations showed A. fragrans could suppress iNOS expression. A. fragrans also inhibited the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6. A. fragrans significantly decreased the degradation of IκBα, reduced the level of nuclear translocation of p65. All these results suggested the inhibitory effects of A. fragrans on the production of inflammatory mediators through the inhibition of the NF-κB activation pathway.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicated that A. fragrans inhibited inflammatory events and iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells through the inactivation of NF-κB pathway. This study gives scientific evidence that validate the use of A. fragrans in treatment of patients with gynecological diseases in clinical practice in traditional Chinese medicine.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China; Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Medicine Research of Ministry of Education, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Rd, Nanjing 210023, PR China.
authors.forename: Jingshan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China; Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, China Pharmaceutical University, Ministry of Education, Nanjing 210009, PR China. Electronic address: lyzhang@cpu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Luyong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China. Electronic address: brookming@163.com.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
keywords: Ainsliaea fragrans Champ.; Dicaffeoylquinic acid; Gynecological diseases; Inducible nitric oxide synthase; Nitric oxide; Nuclear factor-κB pathway