Nauclea officinalis inhibits inflammation in LPS-mediated RAW 264.7 macrophages by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway

J Ethnopharmacol. 2016 May 13:183:159-165. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.01.018. Epub 2016 Jan 19.

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Nauclea officinalis has been traditionally used in China for the treatment of fever, pneumonia and enteritidis etc. This study aims to investigate effects of N. officinalis on the inflammatory response as well as the possible molecular mechanism in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells.

Materials and methods: Anti-inflammatory activity of N. officinalis (10, 20, 50, and 100µg/mL) was investigated by using LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. The NO production was determined by assaying nitrite in culture supernatants with the Griess reagent. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in culture media were measured with ELISA kits. Real time fluorescence quantitative PCR was detected for mRNA expression of iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β. Western blot assay was performed to illustrate the inhibitory effects of N. officinalis on phosphorylation of IκB-α and NF-κB p65.

Results: Treatment with N. officinalis (10-100µg/mL) dose-dependently inhibited the production as well as mRNA expression of NO, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Western blot assay suggested that the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect was associated with the inhibition of phosphorylation of IκB-α and NF-κB p65.

Conclusions: The results indicated that N. officinalis potentially inhibited the activation of upstream mediator NF-κB signaling pathway via suppressing phosphorylation of IκB-α and NF-κB p65 to inhibit LPS-stimulated inflammation.

Keywords: 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide; 3-epi-pumiloside (CAS no: 126722-26-7); Acetonitrile (PubChem CID: 6342); Anti-inflammation; DMSO (PubChem CID: 679); EtOH (PubChem CID: 702); Methanoic acid (PubChem CID: 284); NF-κB; NaNO(2) (PubChem CID: 23668193); Nauclea officinalis; Pro-inflammatory cytokines; Pumiloside (PubChem CID: 10346314); Strictosamide (PubChem CID: 11969629); Vincosamide (PubChem CID: 44567197).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Inflammation / chemically induced*
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Macrophages / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Nitrogen Oxides / metabolism
  • Phytotherapy / methods
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Rubiaceae / chemistry*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Transcription Factor RelA / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Interleukin-6
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Nitrogen Oxides
  • Plant Extracts
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II