Platycodon grandiflorum Extracts Exhibits Anti-inflammatory Properties by Down-regulating MAPK Signaling Pathways Lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW264.7 Cells

  • Kim, Hyeon Jin (Department of Biomedical Science, Catholic University of Daegu) ;
  • Jeong, Seong-Yun (Department of Biomedical Science, Catholic University of Daegu) ;
  • Kim, Jin-Kyung (Department of Biomedical Science, Catholic University of Daegu)
  • Received : 2012.08.21
  • Accepted : 2012.10.04
  • Published : 2012.12.31

Abstract

Platycodon grandiflorum is a medicinal herb that is used to treat pulmonary and respiratory allergic disorders. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of ethyl acetate extract of Platycodon grandiflorum (PGEA) against inflammation and to discern the molecular mechanism of PGEA in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced signal pathways in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. PGEA suppressed the generation of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible NO synthase induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells, and inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells. Western blot analysis showed that PGEA suppressed LPS-induced phosphorylation of p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase and $I{\kappa}-B{\alpha}$ degradation. Inactivation of JNK and p38 was effectively alleviated by PGEA, which subsequently affected the activation of c-Jun and c-Fos, which are the essential components of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription complex. Taken together, the results indicate PGEA suppress the activation of p38, JNK, and AP-1, thereby inhibiting the generation of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines, which affect the regulation of inflammation. PGEA may be useful for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.

Keywords

References

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