title: Inhibitory Effects of Epimedium Herb on the Inflammatory Response In Vitro and In Vivo.
abstract: Epimedium Herb (EH) is a medicinal herb used in traditional Eastern Asia. In this study described, we investigated the biological effects of Epimedium Herb water extract (EHWE) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammation in macrophages and local inflammation in vivo. We also investigated the biological effects of EHWE on the production of inflammatory mediators, pro-inflammatory cytokines and related products, as well as nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation in LPS-stimulated macrophages. The analgesic effect of the acetic acid-induced writhing response and inhibitory activity on xylene-induced ear edema was also evaluated in mice. EHWE exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β. In addition, EHWE strongly suppressed inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), a NO synthesis enzyme, induced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, and inhibited NF-κB activation as well as MAPK pathway phosphorylation. Furthermore, EHWE exhibited an analgesic effect on the writhing response and an inhibitory effect on ear edema in mice. For the first time, we demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects and inhibitory mechanism in macrophages, as well as the inhibitory activity of EHWE in vivo. Our results indicate a potential use of EHWE as an inflammatory therapeutic agent developed from a natural substance.
authors.affiliation: Korean Medicine (KM)-Application Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: You-Chang
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Korean Medicine (KM)-Application Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Korean Medicine (KM)-Application Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Kyung
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Korean Medicine (KM)-Application Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: Toxicity Screening Research Center, Gyeongnam Department of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 660-844, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Korean Medicine (KM)-Application Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin Yeul
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D034181:Epimedium / Q000737:chemistry*; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000009:adverse effects; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; 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; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Analgesic Effect; Epimedium Herb Water Extract; Heme Oxygenase-1; Mice Ear Edema; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase; Nuclear Factor κB