Anti-inflammatory activity of gumiganghwaltang through the inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B activation in peritoneal macrophages

Biol Pharm Bull. 2005 Feb;28(2):233-7. doi: 10.1248/bpb.28.233.

Abstract

Gumiganghwaltang (GMGHT) is an Oriental herbal prescription, which has been commonly used to treat a cold and inflammatory diseases in Korea. However, the mechanism of GMGHT is not clear. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory mechanism of GMGHT in mouse peritoneal macrophages. GMGHT exerted an anti-inflammatory action through inhibiting lipopolysaccaride (LPS)-induced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6 production in mouse peritoneal macrophages. The maximal inhibition rate of TNF-alpha, and IL-6 production by GMGHT (1 mg/ml) was 52.31+/-2.8% and 56.31+/-3.1%, respectively. In the inflammatory process, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) increased in peritoneal macrophages. GMGHT decreased the protein level of COX-2 and iNOS in LPS-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. In addition, GMGHT inhibited nuclear factor-kappaB activation and IkappaB-alpha degradation. Our study suggests that an important molecular mechanism by GMKHT reduce inflammation, which might explain its beneficial effect in the regulation of inflammatory reactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal / pharmacology*
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / drug effects*
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / metabolism
  • Mice
  • NF-kappa B / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Plant Preparations / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
  • Drugs, Chinese Herbal
  • NF-kappa B
  • Plant Preparations
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nos2 protein, mouse