Phellinus baumii ethyl acetate extract inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced iNOS, COX-2, and proinflammatory cytokine expression in RAW264.7 cells

J Nat Med. 2012 Jan;66(1):49-54. doi: 10.1007/s11418-011-0552-8. Epub 2011 Jun 9.

Abstract

Mushrooms are valuable sources of biologically active compounds possessing anticancer, antiplatelet, and anti-inflammatory properties. Phellinus baumii is a mushroom used in folk medicine for a variety of human diseases. However, its potential anti-inflammatory effect has remained unclear. Therefore, we studied the effect of P. baumii ethyl acetate extract (PBEAE) on inflammatory mediator and proinflammatory cytokine protein and/or mRNA expression levels using the nitric oxide (NO) assay, enzyme immunoassay (EIA), western blot, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage like RAW264.7 cells. PBEAE markedly inhibited NO generation and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) synthesis in a concentration-dependent pattern without any cytotoxic effect at the concentration range used. PBEAE also suppressed inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression. In addition, LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression levels were dose-dependently inhibited by PBEAE pretreatment. Furthermore, PBEAE attenuated the mRNA expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines, specifically interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), in a concentration-dependent fashion. Our study suggests that P. baumii might exhibit anti-inflammatory properties by downregulating proinflammatory mediators. Thus, further study on compounds isolated from PBEAE is warranted to investigate the associated molecular mechanisms and identify the potential therapeutic targets.

MeSH terms

  • Acetates / chemistry
  • Agaricales* / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / isolation & purification
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism*
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Dinoprostone / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / metabolism
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / enzymology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Medicine, Traditional
  • Mice
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Solvents / chemistry

Substances

  • Acetates
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-6
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Solvents
  • Nitric Oxide
  • ethyl acetate
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nos2 protein, mouse
  • Ptgs2 protein, mouse
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Dinoprostone