title: Allium hookeri root extract exerts anti-inflammatory effects by nuclear factor-κB down-regulation in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allium hookeri (AH) is widely consumed as a vegetable and herbal medicine in southeastern Asia. AH has been reported antioxidant, antimicrobial, improvement of bone health and antidiabetic effects. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of a methanol extract of AH root (AHE) on inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Initially, characterization of organic sulfur compounds in AHE was determined using high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS). Cells were incubated with LPS and AHE for 24 h. The productions of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inflammation-related cytokines were examined. Gene and protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were assessed by polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Key factor, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) was also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AHE contained organosulfur compounds such as alliin and S-allylcysteine by HPLC-ESI-MS. AHE significantly inhibited NO, ROS, and cytokines production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. In addition, AHE treatment inhibited iNOS and COX-2 mRNA and protein levels, leading to a decrease in iNOS-derived NO level. Furthermore, NF-κB activation was, at least in part, suppressed by AHE treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that AHE treatment inhibits the inflammation condition through suppression of iNOS and COX-2 expression via NF-κB down-regulation.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Industrial Technology Research Group, World Institute of Kimchi, Nam-Gu, Gwangju, 61755, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ja-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Industrial Technology Research Group, World Institute of Kimchi, Nam-Gu, Gwangju, 61755, South Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Industrial Technology Research Group, World Institute of Kimchi, Nam-Gu, Gwangju, 61755, South Korea.
authors.forename: Bo-Ram
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: You
authors.affiliation: Department of Oriental Medicine Resources, Chonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, 54596, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Functional Food & Nutrition Division, Department of Agro-food Resources, Rural Development Administration, Wanju, Jeonbuk, 55365, South Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Hyen
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Industrial Technology Research Group, World Institute of Kimchi, Nam-Gu, Gwangju, 61755, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ye-Rang
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Industrial Technology Research Group, World Institute of Kimchi, Nam-Gu, Gwangju, 61755, South Korea. hjkim@wikim.re.kr.
authors.forename: Hyun Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000490:Allium / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000067996:RAW 264.7 Cells
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2
keywords: Allium hookeri; COX-2; Inflammation; NF-κB; iNOS