NO Production Inhibitory Activity Research Articles

Inhibitory activity of Chinese herbal medicines toward histamine release from mast cells and nitric oxide production by macrophage-like cell line, RAW 264.7

One hundred and six species of traditional Chinese herbs were collected from the northeast of China, extracted with 60% ethanol, and tested for activity inhibiting histamine release and nitric oxide (NO) production. We found that 18 of the 106 species showed strong histamine-release inhibitory activity (inhibition >80%, 100 μg/ml), of which Bidens parviflora Willd. was recognized to present the strongest activity (inhibition 97.8%, 100 μg/ml). Seven species exhibited strong NO-production inhibitory activity (inhibition >50%, 100 μg/ml) with Pholidota chinensis Lindl. as the most active one (inhibition 86.2%, 100 μg/ml).

Anti-inflammatory and related pharmacological activities of cultured mycelia and fruiting bodies of Cordyceps militaris

This study aimed to elucidate pharmacological activities of Cordyceps militaris. The 70% ethanolic extracts of cultured mycelia (CME) and fruiting bodies (FBE) of Cordyceps militaris were prepared. CME was able to directly scavenge the stable free radical diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), indicating its antioxidant activity. Both CME and FBE showed topical anti-inflammatory activity in the croton oil-induced ear edema in mice. CME was found to contain acute anti-inflammatory activity, which was evaluated using the carrageenin-induced edema, and also strong antinociceptive activity in writhing test. CME and FBE contain potent inhibitory activity on the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) angiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. Cordycepin, a metabolite of Cordyceps militaris, appeared to be at least partly responsible for its anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic activities. CME concentration-dependently inhibited the NO production and iNOS expression upon stimulation by lipoposaccharide in RAW 264.7, a murine macrophage cell line. In brief, we demontrate that Cordyceps militaris possesses anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activites, and related antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, and NO production-inhibitory activities.