Achyranthes japonica exhibits anti-inflammatory effect via NF-kappa B suppression and HO-1 induction in macrophages

作者：Bang Soo Young; Kim Ji Hee; Kim Hee Young; Lee Young Ji; Park Sun Young; Lee Sang Joon; Kim YoungHee^*

来源：Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2012, 144(1): 109-117.

DOI：10.1016/j.jep.2012.08.037

• Achyranthes japonica
• Nitric oxide (NO)
• Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)
• Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappa B)
• Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)
• NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The roots of Achyranthes japonica Nakai have been used in traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of edema and arthritis in Korea. %26lt;br%26gt;Aim of the study: In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism responsible for anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous extract of A. japonica roots (AJ) in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Materials and methods: Nitric oxide (NO) production and as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression were examined in TG-elicited peritoneal macrophages and RAW 264.7 cells. Cell viability was monitored by MTT assay. Protein and mRNA expressions were determined by Western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively. The activity of NF-kappa B and Nrf2 were examined by EMSA, immunocytochemistry or reporter assay. %26lt;br%26gt;Results: AJ inhibited LPS-induced NO secretion as well as iNOS expression, without affecting cell viability. Furthermore, AJ suppressed LPS-induced NF-kappa B activation, degradation of I kappa B-alpha, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38. Further study demonstrated that AJ induced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene expression via nuclear translocation and transactivation of Nrf2. In addition, the inhibitory effects of AJ on iNOS expression were abrogated by small interfering RNA-mediated knock-down of HO-1. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusions: These results suggest that AJ suppresses LPS-induced NO production and iNOS expression in macrophages through the inhibition of I kappa B/NF-kappa B and MAPK as well as the Nrf2-mediated HO-1 induction. These findings provide the scientific rationale for anti-inflammatory therapeutic use of A. japonica roots.

• 出版日期2012-10-31