Sung-Won Min

Inhibitory effect of eupatilin and jaceosidin isolated from Artemisia princeps on carrageenan-induced inflammation in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Artemisia princeps Pampanini (family Asteraceae) is an herbal medicine widely used as a hepatoprotective, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial agent in Korea, China, and Japan. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effect of the main constituents, eupatilin and jaceosidin, isolated from Artemisia princeps. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used carrageenan-induced inflammation in an air pouch on the back of mice and carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in rats to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of eupatilin and jaceosidin. Inflammatory makers, such as expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB), were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoblot analyses. RESULTS Eupatilin and jaceosidin blocked carrageenan-induced increase in leukocyte number and protein levels in air pouch exudates. Eupatilin and jaceosidin inhibited COX-2 expression and NF-kappaB activation, and markedly reduced TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)) levels. They also inhibited hind paw edema induced by carrageenan. Eupatilin and jaceosidin had similar activity. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that eupatilin and jaceosidin may reduce inflammation by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation, and that Artemisia princeps inhibits inflammation because of these constituents.

Anti‐inflammatory mechanism of ginsenoside Rh1 in lipopolysaccharide‐stimulated microglia: critical role of the protein kinase A pathway and hemeoxygenase‐1 expression

J. Neurochem. (2010) 115, 1668–1680.

Glycitein inhibits glioma cell invasion through down-regulation of MMP-3 and MMP-9 gene expression

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases that play a pivotal role in invasion and angiogenesis of malignant glioma cells. Therefore, the inhibition of MMPs has been suggested to be a promising therapeutic strategy for brain tumors. In the present study, we found that glycitein, a bacterial metabolite of the isoflavone glycitin, inhibits the expression of MMP-3 and MMP-9 at promoter, mRNA, and protein levels in PMA-stimulated U87MG human astroglioma cells. In addition, gelatin zymography showed that glycitein inhibited the PMA-induced MMP-9 secretion in U87MG cells. A subsequent Matrigel invasion assay revealed that glycitein suppresses the in vitro invasiveness of glioma cells, which may be at least partly due to the glycitein-mediated inhibition of MMP-3 and MMP-9. In support of this, treatment of MMP-3- or MMP-9-specific inhibitor significantly suppressed PMA-induced invasion of glioma cells. Further mechanistic studies revealed that glycitein inhibits the DNA binding and transcriptional activities of NF-kappaB and AP-1, which are important transcription factors for MMP-3 or MMP-9 gene expression. Furthermore, glycitein suppresses PMA-induced phosphorylation of three types of MAP kinases, which are upstream signaling molecules in MMP gene expressions and NF-kappaB and AP-1 activities in glioma cells. Therefore, the inhibition of MMP-3 and MMP-9 expression by glycitein may have therapeutic potential for controlling invasiveness of malignant gliomas.

Lactic acid bacteria increase antiallergic effect ofArtemisia princeps pampanini SS-1

Artemisia princeps Pampanini, which is called Ssajuarissuk in Korean (SS-1), was fermented with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction-inhibitory activity was investigated. Of these fermented agents, SS-1 extract fermented withBifidobacterium infantis K-525 (F-SS-1) most effectively inhibited the release of β-hexosamindase from RBL-2H3 cells induced IgE. In IgE-induced RBL-2H3 cells, F-SS-1 inhibited proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA expression. Oral administration of SS-1 and F-SS-1 to mice inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction induced by IgE and scratching behaviors induced by compound 48/80. The inhibitory activity of F-SS-1 against scratching behaviors induced by compound 48/80. The inhibitory activity of F-SS-1 against scratching behaviors was more effective than that of SS-1. These findings suggest that the fermentation of SS-1 with LAB can increase its antiallergic activity.

Kakkalide and Its Metabolite Irisolidone Ameliorate Carrageenan-Induced Inflammation in Mice by Inhibiting NF-κB Pathway

The anti-inflammatory activities of kakkalide, a major constituent of the flower of Pueraria thunbergiana, and irisolidone, a metabolite of kakkalide produced by intestinal microflora, against carrageenan-induced inflammation in air pouches on the backs of mice and in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peritoneal macrophages were investigated. Kakkalide and irisolidone down-regulated the gene expression of cytokines [tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)] and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IL-1β, and inflammatory mediators, NO and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. These agents also inhibited the phosphorylation of IκB-α and the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). Orally administered kakkalide and irisolidone significantly reduced carrageenan-induced inflammatory markers, leukocyte number, and protein amount in the exudates of the air pouch. These constituents also inhibited PGE2 production and COX-2 inducible nitric oxide synthase, IL-1β, and TNF-α expression. These agents also inhibited NF-κB activation. The anti-inflammatory effects of irisolidone were more potent than those of kakkalide. Based on these findings, kakkalide and irisolidone may inhibit inflammatory reactions via NF-κB pathway, and irisolidone, a metabolite of kakkalide, may more potently inhibit these inflammatory reactions.