title: The anti-inflammatory effect of Sonchus oleraceus aqueous extract on lipopolysaccharide stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sonchus oleraceus L. (Asteraceae) (SO) is a dietary and traditional medicinal plant in China. However, its underlying mechanism of action as an anti-inflammatory agent is not known.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates the anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract of SO.
  
  
  METHODS
  The extract of SO was used to treat RAW 264.7 cells (in the working concentrations of 500, 250, 125, 62.5, 31.3 and 15.6 μg/mL) for 24 h. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators produced in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were assessed. Meanwhile, the expression level of TLR-4, COX-2, pSTATs and NF-κB was tested. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory activity of the extract in vivo was assessed using xylene-induced mouse ear oedema model and the anti-inflammatory compounds in the extracts were analyzed by HPLC-MS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SO extract significantly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators at gene and protein levels with the concentration of 31.3 μg/mL, and suppressed the expression of TLR-4, COX-2, NF-κB and pSTAT in RAW 264.7 cells. The anti-inflammatory activity of SO in vivo has significant anti-inflammatory effects with the concentration of 250 and 125 mg/kg, and less side effect on the weights of the mice at the concentration of 250 mg/kg. Moreover, HPLC-MS analysis revealed that the anti-inflammatory compounds in the extract were identified as villosol, ferulaic acid, β-sitosterol, ursolic acid and rutin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated that SO extract has anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo, which will be further developed as novel pharmacological strategies in order to defeat inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: a Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Space Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Northwestern Polytechnical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi , P. R. China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: a Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Space Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Northwestern Polytechnical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi , P. R. China.
authors.forename: Dan-Dan
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: a Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Space Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Northwestern Polytechnical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi , P. R. China.
authors.forename: Qiu-Ping
authors.initials: QP
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: a Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Space Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Northwestern Polytechnical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi , P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: a Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Space Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Northwestern Polytechnical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi , P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yong-Yong
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: a Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Space Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Northwestern Polytechnical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi , P. R. China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: b Desert Plants & Ecological Civilization Research Center , Northwest University , Xi'an , Shaanxi , P. R. China.
authors.forename: Huan-Qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: a Key Laboratory for Space Bioscience and Space Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Northwestern Polytechnical University , Xi'an , Shaanxi , P. R. China.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huyan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells; D031184:Sonchus / Q000737:chemistry; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; C493487:Tlr4 protein, mouse; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4
keywords: NF-κB; Nitric oxide; pSTAT; pro-inflammatory cytokine