Extract from Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. Fruit Prevents LPS-induced Homotypic Aggregation of Monocytic THP-1 Cells via Suppression of Nitric Oxide Production and NF-κB Activation

Abstract

Homotypic cell adhesion (homotypic aggregation) in activated monocytes plays a central role in physiological and pathological processes including inflammatory responses, differentiation and migration. The extract of the Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. fruit (Maesil) has potential benefits to human health; such as anti-viral, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer activities. Indeed, Maesil extract may modulate inflammatory responses via interference with homotypic aggregation in monocytes. In the present study, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the therapeutic efficacy of Maesil extract in inflammatory diseases were investigated. It was found that Maesil extract inhibited homotypic aggregation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated monocytes. This was mediated by reduction of nitric oxide (NO) production, partly via inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in LPS-activated THP-1 cells. It was confirmed that NO inhibition is a key mechanism in Maesil induced blockade of monocyte aggregation through identification of reversal of this inhibitory effect by the NO-producing agent S-nitroso-N-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP). In addition, Maesil extract significantly attenuated LPS-induced IκB-α phosphorylation and NF-κB translocation into the nucleus. In conclusion, Maesil extract exerts anti-inflammatory effects via inhibition of homotypic aggregation of LPS-activated monocytes through mechanisms involving the suppression of NO production and NF-κB activity, suggesting Maesil extract as a potential therapeutic candidate for the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.

Molecular Networking-Guided Isolation of a Phenolic Constituent from Prunus mume Seed and Its Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities

“…As a result, the FMSS extract showed the most potent antioxidant activity in both DPPH (41.8%) and ABTS (22.7%) experiments ( Figure 1 A,B), whereas the MSE extract (73.7%) indicated better NO inhibition activity than other extracts ( Figure 1 D). The antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of P. mume extract were also found in previous studies [ 33 , 34 ]. Since different extracts showed good activities in each experiment, molecular networking analysis was further conducted to perform chemical classification of P. mume extracts.…”

Quantitation of Phenolic Compounds Related to Antioxidant and Antiosteoporosis Activities in Ripe and Unripe Maesil (Prunus mume)

“…Also, the unripe maesil treated by smoking or steaming process is called as ome in Korea, and it has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of emetic, tussis, sputum, diarrheal, and pyretic disease for long time [1]. And maesil has been reported to have various biological activities such as antioxidant [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11], antimicrobial, and antibacterial [12][13][14][15], mitogenesis [16], inhibition of growth signals of vascular smooth muscle cells [17], apoptosis [18], anti-inflammatory activity [19,20], anticancer cell [9,21], immune function enhancing, therapeutic activities for cognitive impairments by Alzheimer's disease [22], cytoprotective [23], antidiabetic activity [24], antiobesity activity [25], and antiosteoporosis activity [26,27].…”