Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of phenolic compounds from the roots of Ulmus macrocarpa

Arch Pharm Res. 2011 Sep;34(9):1459-66. doi: 10.1007/s12272-011-0907-4. Epub 2011 Oct 6.

Abstract

The roots of Ulmus macrocarpa Hance (Ulmaceae) have been used as an oriental traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammation, ulcers, cancers, and parasites. Activity guided isolation from the roots of U. macrocarpa yielded three flavonoids [catechin 7-O-β-D-apiofuranoside (1), (+)-catechin (2), taxifolin 6-C-glucopyranoside (3)], and one coumarin [fraxin (4)]. To investigate the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of these compounds, DPPH radical scavenging activity and inhibitory activity against nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells were examined and the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxidase-2 (COX-2) were measured by RT-PCR and Western Blotting in HaCaT cells. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 showed moderate antioxidative activities compared with L-ascorbic acid as a positive control. NO production was reduced and the expressions of iNOS and COX-2 and their mRNA were inhibited by the addition of samples (1-4). These results suggest that the phenolic compounds from the roots of U. macrocarpa might be developed as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / isolation & purification*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / isolation & purification*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Biphenyl Compounds / chemistry
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Coumarins / isolation & purification*
  • Coumarins / pharmacology
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / biosynthesis
  • Flavonoids / isolation & purification*
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Keratinocytes / drug effects
  • Keratinocytes / enzymology
  • Keratinocytes / metabolism
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / enzymology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Nitric Oxide / biosynthesis
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / biosynthesis
  • Picrates / chemistry
  • Plant Roots / chemistry
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Ulmus / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Antioxidants
  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Coumarins
  • Flavonoids
  • Picrates
  • Nitric Oxide
  • 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nos2 protein, mouse
  • Cyclooxygenase 2