title: A traditional Chinese formula composed of Chuanxiong Rhizoma and Gastrodiae Rhizoma (Da Chuanxiong Formula) suppresses inflammatory response in LPS -induced RAW 264.7 cells through inhibition of NF-κB pathway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Da Chuanxiong Formula (DCXF) which origins from Jin Dynasty is a famous classical 2-herb Chinese medicinal prescription. It is composed of dried rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma, CR) and Gastrodia elata (Gastrodiae Rhizoma, GR) at the ratio of 4:1 (w/w). It has been used to treat headache which is caused by wind pathogen and blood stasis for thousands of years in China.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of DCXF and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anti-inflammatory effect of DCXF was evaluated using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Generation of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) were measured by the Griess colorimetric method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The gene expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Furthermore, the effect of DCXF on NF-κB activation was measured by western blot assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with DCXF significantly suppressed the productions of NO and PGE2through inhibitions of iNOS and COX-2 expressions in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. DCXF significantly decreased IκBα phosphorylation, inhibited p65 expression and reduced p-p65 level. These results suggested the anti-inflammatory effect of DCXF was associated with the reduction of inflammatory mediators through inhibition of NF-κB pathway.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicated that DCXF inhibited inflammation in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells through inactivation of NF-κB pathway.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: liuzhikebee@163.com.
authors.forename: Zhi-Ke
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: ncf0000@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Chun-Fai
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: hoitingshiu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hoi-Ting
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Shiu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: vhlwong@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Hing-Lok
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: cwwong_eric@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Chun-Wai
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: likaicuhk@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kai-Kai
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: zhangjf06@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Jin-Fang
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: lampingkuen@yahoo.com.hk.
authors.forename: Ping-Kuen
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: wpoon@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Wai-Sang
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518057, China. Electronic address: claralau@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Clara Bik-San
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518057, China. Electronic address: pingcleung@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Ping-Chung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China; Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518057, China. Electronic address: gohey@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Chun-Hay
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C000588931:DaChuanXiongFang; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone
keywords: Anti-inflammation; Chuanxiong Rhizoma; Da Chuanxiong Formula; Gastrodiae Rhizoma; NF-κB