Anti-inflammatory and Anti-nociceptive Effects of the Methanol Extract of Fomes fomentarius

Abstract

In an attempt to find bioactive natural products with an anti-inflammatory activity, we evaluated the effects of the methanol extract of Fomes fomentarius (MEFF) on in vivo anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities. MEFF (50, 100 mg/kg/d, p.o.) reduced acute paw edema induced by carrageenin in rats, and showed MEFF analgesic activity, as determined by an acetic acid-induced writhing test and a hot plate test in mice. To investigate the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory action of MEFF, we examined the effect of MEFF on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced responses in murine macrophages cell line RAW 264.7. MEFF potently inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ), and tumor necrosis factor-a a (TNF-a a) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Consistent with these observations, inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) levels were reduced by MEFF in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, MEFF suppressed nuclear factor-k kB (NF-k kB) activation in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. These findings suggest that the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties of the methanol extract of MEFF may result from the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expression through the down-regulation of NF-k kB binding activity.

Medicinal properties of fungi occurring on Betula sp. trees. A review

“…A methanolic extract of Inonotus (MEIO) has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, reducing the level of NO synthase (iNOS) and COX -2, thus resulting in suppressed nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), which accounts for inflammatory conditions [16,28]. A water extract from I. obliquus is reported to have a virucidal effect towards hepatitis C virus and to reduce its infective properties very fast [29].…”

“…MEFF was also observed to extend the duration of sensitivity to pain (this potentially affects the peripheral and central nociceptive pain). The effects of MEFF are attributed to its inhibition of NO synthase (iNOS), COX-2 and the NF-κB; the most highly-active factors being the polysaccharide fraction and β-glucan [16,28].…”

“…Many undervalued species of polyporoid fungi growing mainly on birch that show medicinal properties can be found in Poland. Such compounds as polysaccharides [2][3][4][5][6][7][8], polyphenols [6,9], triterpenes [6,10,11] which are contained in them demonstrate positive influence on the human organism; they mainly exhibit anticancer [4,5,9,[12][13][14][15], anti-inflammatory [16,17], anti-bacterial [18] and immunostimulant [2,7,19] activity.…”

Daedalea gibbosa substances inhibit LPS-induced expression of iNOS by suppression of NF-κB and MAPK activities in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells

“…Numerous studies have been carried out on natural bioactive substances with fungal origin able to modulate the NF-κB activation pathway (9) and iNOS expression (10)(11)(12). Occasionally, the chemical structures of the active moieties have been elucidated, and their exact mechanism of action was established.…”

Fungal metabolites modulating NF-κB activity: An approach to cancer therapy and chemoprevention (Review)

“…For example, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), which specifically inhibits DNA binding of the NF-κB and has shown some promising results in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, was found to be produced by Agaricus bisporus, Lentinus edodes and Phellinus linteus (9,10). Moreover, a methanol extract of Fomes fomentarius was reported to inhibit the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX) expression due to the down-regulation of the NF-κB binding activity to DNA (11). A model of the classical NF-κB activation pathway.…”