Abstract
In relation to anti-inflammatory agents from medicinal plants, we have isolated three compounds from Atractylodes macrocephala; 1, 2-[(2E)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienyl]-6-methyl-2, 5-cyclohexadiene-1, 4-dione; 2, 1-acetoxy-tetradeca-6E,12E-diene-8, 10-diyne-3-ol; 3, 1,3-diacetoxy-tetradeca-6E, 12E-diene-8, 10-diyne. Compounds 1–3 showed concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Western blotting and RT-PCR analyses demonstrated that compounds 1–3 suppressed the protein and mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Furthermore, compounds 1–3 inhibited transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and nuclear translocation of NF-κB in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells. The most active compound among them, compound 1, could reduce the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and suppress the phosphorylation of MAPK including p38, JNK, and ERK1/2. Taken together, these results suggest that compounds 1–3 from A. macrocephala can be therapeutic candidates to treat inflammatory diseases.
Highlights
Atractylodes macrocephala, is a perennial herb that has been used as a traditional medicine in Korea, China, and Japan for thousands of years to treat gastrointestinal dysfunction
We purified compounds 1, 2, and 3 from A. macrocephala as inflammatory modulators in LPS-activated macrophages by the activity-guided purification process. Their structures were elucidated by the analysis of mass and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data [22,23]
The suppressive effects of compounds 1–3 on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and COX-2 expressions were in parallel with the nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels. These results suggest that compounds 1–3 suppressed the production of NO and PGE2 inflammatory mediators by inhibiting expressions of iNOS and COX-2 protein and mRNA in LPS-induced macrophage cell system
Summary
Atractylodes macrocephala, is a perennial herb that has been used as a traditional medicine in Korea, China, and Japan for thousands of years to treat gastrointestinal dysfunction. The A. macrocephala has been reported to possess diverse biological activities, including improved functional defects in digestive system, as well as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-oxidative, and anti-bacterial activities [3,4,5,6,7]. A. macrocephala have been reported to contain sesquiterpenoids, polyacetylenes, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides [8]. Some sesquiterpenoids such as atractylenolide I~III exhibited inhibitory effect on LPS-induced NO production in macrophages and neuroprotective effects in the Parkinson’s disease model [8,9,10,11]. Polyacetylenes including atractylodemayne A, E, F, G, and 14-acetoxy-12-senecioyloxytetradeca-2E,8E,10E-trien-4,6-diyn-1-ol showed anti-inflammatory potential against LPS-induced NO production and carrageenan-induced paw edema without their detailed action mechanisms [8,12,13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
