Effect of the semen extract of Cuscuta chinensis on inflammatory responses in LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglia.

To investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of the semen extract of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. (Cuscutae Semen; CS) on the production of inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin 2 (PGE2), and proinflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglia. BV-2 cells were treated with CS extract for 30 min, and then stimulated with LPS or without for 24 h. The levels of NO, PGE2 and proinflammatory cytokines were measured by Griess assay and ELISA. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA and protein was determined by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and the nuclear expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65 were investigated by Western blot analysis. CS extract significantly decreased the production of NO and PGE2 by suppressing the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in activated microglia. CS extract decreased the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 by down-regulating their transcription levels. In addition, CS extract suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK, and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 in activated microglia. These results indicate that CS extract is capable of suppressing the inflammatory response by microglia activation, suggesting that CS extract has potential in the treatment of brain inflammation.

Kang SY ，Jung HW ，Lee MY ，Lee HW ，Chae SW ，Park YK ... -  《-》

Effect of the semen extract of Thuja orientalis on inflammatory responses in transient focal cerebral ischemia rat model and LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglia.

Jung HW ，Kang SY ，Park KH ，Oh TW ，Jung JK ，Kim SH ，Choi DJ ，Park YK ... -  《-》

Flower extract of Panax notoginseng attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response via blocking of NF-kappaB signaling pathway in murine macrophages.

Jung HW ，Seo UK ，Kim JH ，Leem KH ，Park YK ... -  《-》

Ethanol extract from a Chinese herbal formula, "Zuojin Pill", inhibit the expression of inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages.

Zuojin Pill (ZJP), a traditional Chinese medicinal decoction that has been used in treating gastritis, gastric ulcer since 15th century, contains two herbs: Rhizoma Coptidis and Fructus Evodiae in the ratio of 6:1 (w/w). Alkaloids are the main active principles contributing to ZJP's efficacy, but anti-inflammatory mechanism has not been fully clarified. The objective of the study is to reveal anti-inflammatory molecular mechanism of ethanol extract from ZJP, which would form an additional proof to the traditional experience of ZJP in clinical administration. Seven alkaloids were determined from the ethanol extract of ZJP using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with the gradient mobile phase. The ethanol extract from ZJP were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory action in murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) were measured by the Griess colorimetric method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Proteome profiler array was analyzed to evaluate 40 cytokines at protein level. In addition, interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) synthesis were analyzed using ELISA to confirm the result of the Proteome profiler array. The gene expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), TNF-α, IL-6, and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) were detected by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR). Furthermore, the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p50 and p65 subunits was detected with ELISA. The secretions of NO, PGE(2) and the mRNA expression of iNOS, COX-2 were significantly inhibited, moreover, the protein and mRNA expressions of IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were inhibited by preventing the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p50 and p65 subunits. The proteome profiler array showed that 15 cytokines and chemokines involved in the inflammatory process were down-regulated by ZJP. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory properties of ethanol extract from ZJP might be the results from the inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α expression through preventing the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB p50 and p65 subunits in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, these results provided evidence to understand the therapeutic effects of ZJP on gastritis, gastric ulcer, and other inflammatory diseases in clinic.

Wang QS ，Cui YL ，Dong TJ ，Zhang XF ，Lin KM ... -  《-》

Sesquiterpene dimer (DSF-52) from Artemisia argyi inhibits microglia-mediated neuroinflammation via suppression of NF-κB, JNK/p38 MAPKs and Jak2/Stat3 signaling pathways.

Microglia-involved neuroinflammation is thought to promote brain damage in various neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, novel therapeutics suppressing microglia over-activation could prove useful for neuroprotection in inflammation-mediated neurodegenerative diseases. DSF-52 is a novel sesquiterpene dimer compound isolated from medical plant Artemisia argyi by our group. In this study, we investigated whether DSF-52 inhibited the neuroinflammatory responses in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated microglia. Our findings showed that DSF-52 inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), as well as mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) in LPS-activated BV-2 microglia. Moreover, DSF-52 markedly up-regulated mRNA levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Mechanism study indicated that DSF-52 suppressed Akt/IκB/NF-κB inflammation pathway against LPS treatment. Also, DSF-52 down-regulated the phosphorylation levels of JNK and p38 MAPKs, but not ERK. Furthermore, DSF-52 blocked Jak2/Stat3 dependent inflammation pathway through inhibiting Jak2 and Stat3 phosphorylation, as well as Stat3 nuclear translocation. We concluded that the inhibitory ability of DSF-52 on microglia-mediated neuroinflammation may offer a novel neuroprotective modality and could be potentially useful in inflammation-mediated neurodegenerative diseases.

Zeng KW ，Wang S ，Dong X ，Jiang Y ，Tu PF ... -  《-》