Activation of NF-kB mediates up-regulation of cerebellar and hypothalamic pro-inflammatory chemokines (RANTES and MCP-1) and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) in acute edible camphor administration

Abstract

Edible camphor (EC) infusions are continually used as an aphrodisiac among other roles. In previous studies, EC had been reported to cause convulsion and seizure in rats. There is a dearth of information associating or relating its consumption to brain inflammation. Therefore, we investigated the effect of various doses of EC in an acute study, on hypothalamic and cerebellar levels of some pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in male Wistar rats. Following administration, cerebellar levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were significantly increased by 2000 and 4000 mg/kg EC, while hypothalamic TNF-α and IL-1β levels were significantly elevated by all the tested doses, and IL-6 level by only 2000 and 4000 mg/kg when compared with control. Besides, EC administration resulted in a significant increase in the expressions of cerebellar and hypothalamic nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), and monocyte chemo-attractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in a dose-dependent manner compared with control. Therefore, the misuse and overconsumption of EC could trigger cerebellar and hypothalamic inflammation via EC-induced activation of NF-kB and up-regulation of pro-inflammatory mediators.