Rhododendron album Blume inhibits iNOS and COX-2 expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells through the downregulation of NF-κB signaling

Ji Won Park, Ok Kyoung Kwon, Jung Hee Kim, Sei Ryang Oh, Jae Hong Kim, Jin Hyub Paik, Bambang Marwoto, Rifatul Widjhati, Fifit Juniarti, Doddy Irawan, Kyung Seop Ahn

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    27 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Rhododendron album Blume (RA) has traditionally been used as an herbal medicine and is considered to have anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we screened RA extracts with anti-inflammatory properties. The biological effects of an RA methanol extract (RAME) on inflammation were investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse RAW264.7 cells. We investigated the effects of RAME on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. To explore the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of RAME, we measured the mRNA and protein expression of pro-inflammatory mediators induced by RAME in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells by RT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. RAME significantly inhibited the production of NO, PGE2, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. It also suppressed the mRNA and protein expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) with a concomitant decrease in the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These results indicate that RAME inhibits LPS-induced inflammatory responses. These effects were considered to be strongly associated with the suppression of NF-κB activation. We therefore suggest that RAME may be prove to be an effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)987-994
    Number of pages8
    JournalInternational journal of molecular medicine
    Volume35
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015 Apr 1

    Keywords

    • Inflammation
    • Lipopolysaccharide
    • Mitogen-activated protein kinases
    • Nuclear factor-κB
    • Rhododendron album Blume

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Genetics

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