Inhibitory Effects of Oriental Herbal Medicines on IL-8 Induction in Lipopolysaccharide-Activated Rat Macrophages

Abstract

Cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC), a rat interleukin-8 (IL-8), was quantitated by using a sensitive ELISA. The CINC was induced up to 20 ng/ml from basal 1-2 ng/ml in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated peritoneal macrophages. This CINC induction was significantly inhibited by steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including dexamethasone, but not by non-steroidal drugs including indomethacin at all. Nine out of 59 herbal medicines which are frequently used in Korean traditional prescriptions for inflammatory diseases exhibited more than 50% of inhibition on the CINC induction by their total methanol extracts with 0.1 mg/ml as a final concentration. The active 9 total extracts were prepared from radix of Aralia continentalis, rhizoma of Cnidium officinale, rhizoma of Coptis chinensis, tuber of Fritillaria verticillata, radix of Saussurea lappa, tuber of Sparganium stoloniferum, flower of Syzygium aromaticum, semen of Trichosanthes kirilowii, and herba of Tripterygium regelii. These total extracts were sequentially fractionated with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water. Among the solvent-fractionated extracts with 0.05 mg/ml as a final concentration, more than 50% of inhibition on the CINC induction was exhibited by the dichloromethane fraction of Aralia continentalis; the water fraction of Fritillaria verticillata; the dichloromethane fraction of Saussurea lappa; the dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and butanol fractions of Syzygium aromaticum; the dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and water fractions of Trichosanthes kirilowii; and the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions of Tripterygium regelii.

Immunomodulatory Activities of <i>Dendrophthoe falcata</i> (L.f) Ettingsh in Experimental Animals: <i>In vitro</i> and <i>In vivo</i> Investigations

“…As well, HEDF revealed the presence of polysaccharides, which are ideal candidates for therapeutics with immunomodulatory and antitumor effects [33]. The result of this study was also in agreement with the reports that, plant phenolics and saponins (components of D. falcata [4]) are effective immunomodulators [3].…”

Ethanol Fraction of Aralia elata Seemann Enhances Antioxidant Activity and Lowers Serum Lipids in Rats When Administered with Benzo(.ALPHA.)pyrene

“…More than 50% inhibition of cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant induction was shown to be exhibited by the dichloromethane fraction of Aralia continentalis with 0.05 mg/ml as a final concentration. 21) According to Hernandez et al,22) the extract of Aralia elata root revealed antiulcer and antisecretory characteristics. The structures of saponins, known to potent inhibitors of ethanol absorption, were determined by Yoshikawa et al 23) extracted from the bark and root of Aralia elata.…”

Secondary Metabolites of Plants from the Genus Saussurea: Chemistry and Biological Activity

“…Saussurea costus is frequently used in Korean traditional prescriptions against inflammatory diseases. Its total MeOH extract at 0.1 mg/ml as a final concentration exhibited more than 50% of inhibition on the cytokine-induced neutrophil chemotactic (CINC) factor induction [212].…”