In vitro anti-inflammatory effects of arctigenin,a lignan from Arctium lappa L., through inhibition on iNOS pathway |
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Authors: | Feng Zhao Lu Wang Ke Liu |
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Affiliation: | 1. School of Pharmacy, Yantai University, 32 Qingquan Road of Laishan District, Yantai, Shandong 264005, China;2. Shandong Target Drug Research Co., 1 Wanshoushan Road of Kaifa District, Yantai, Shandong 264006, China;3. School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian, Liaoning 116600, China |
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Abstract: | Ethnopharmacological relevanceArctigenin, a bioactive constituent from dried seeds of Arctium lappa L. (Compositae) which has been widely used as a Traditional Chinese Medicine for dispelling wind and heat included in Chinese Pharmacophere, was found to exhibit anti-inflammatory activities but its molecular mechanism remains unknown yet.Aim of the studyTo investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of arctigenin.Materials and methodsCultured macrophage RAW 264.7 cells and THP-1 cells were used for the experiments. Griess assay was used to evaluate the inhibitory effect of arctigenin on the overproduction of nitric oxide (NO). ELISA was used to determine the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The inhibitory effect on the enzymatic activity of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was tested by colorimetric method. Western blot was used to detect the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and COX-2.ResultsArctigenin suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated NO production and pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion, including TNF-α and IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner. Arctigenin also strongly inhibited the expression of iNOS and iNOS enzymatic activity, whereas the expression of COX-2 and COX-2 enzymatic activity were not affected by arctigenin.ConclusionsThese results indicated that potent inhibition on NO, TNF-α and IL-6, but not COX-2 expression and COX-2 activity, might constitute the anti-inflammatory mechanism of arctigenin. Arctigenin suppressed the overproduction of NO through down-regulation of iNOS expression and iNOS enzymatic activity in LPS-stimulated macrophage. |
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Keywords: | Arctigenin Anti-inflammatory effect Macrophage Nitric oxide INOS |
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