Abstract
Anti-inflammatory effects of dihydrobenzofuran neolignans isolated from Euonymus alatus leaves and twigs were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Six neolignans, (+)-simulanol (1), (+)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (2), (−)-simulanol (3), (−)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (4), (+)-dihydrodehyrodiconiferyl alcohol (5), threo-buddlenol B (6) effectively inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) induced by LPS, and the activity of iNOS. (−)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (4), which showed the most potent inhibitory activity, attenuated the activity of iNOS enzyme and also the expression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins. The subsequent production of proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and prostaglandin E2 were also inhibited by the pretreatment of RAW264.7 cells with (−)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (4). These neolignans are thought to contribute to anti-inflammatory effects of E. alatus, and expected to be potential candidates to prevent/treat inflammation-related diseases.
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![]() | Fig. 2.Inhibitory effects of compounds 1–6 on iNOS enzyme activity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RAW264.7 cells were treated with compounds 1–6 for 1 h before exposure to LPS for 24 h. The fluorescent product was assessed as described in the Materials and Methods. The values shown are the mean ± s.d. of data from three independent experiments. Results differ significantly from LPS alone,∗P < 0.01,∗∗P < 0.001. |
![]() | Fig. 3.Inhibitory effects of compounds 4 on the expression of iNOS protein in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RAW264.7 cells were treated with compound 4 for 1 h, and then exposed to LPS for 24 h. Cell lysates (40 ug protein) were prepared and subjected to Western blot analysis using iNOS-specific antibodies. The relative protein levels were quantified by scanning densi-tometry and normalized to b-tubulin protein. NO production was measured by the Griess reaction and sodium nitrite was used as a standard. The values shown are the mean ± s.d. of data from three independent experiments. Results differ significantly from LPS alone,∗P < 0.01,∗∗P < 0.001. |
![]() | Fig. 4.Inhibitory effects of compounds 4 on the expression of COX-2 protein in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RAW264.7 cells were treated with compound 4 for 1 h, and then exposed to LPS for 24 h. Cell lysates (40 ug protein) were prepared and subjected to Western blot analysis using COX-2-specific antibodies. The relative protein levels were quantified by scanning densito-metry and normalized to b-tubulin protein. The concentrations of PGE2 in the culture medium were determined using ELISA system as described in Materials and Methods. The values shown are the mean ± s.d. of data from three independent experiments. Results differ significantly from LPS alone,∗P <0.01,∗∗P <0.001. |
![]() | Fig. 5.Inhibitory effects of compounds 4 on the production of proinflammatory cytokines in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RAW264.7 cells were treated with compound 4 for 1 h, and then exposed to LPS for 24 h. The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in the culture medium were determined using ELISA system as described in Materials and Methods. The values shown are the mean ± s.d. of data from three independent experiments. Results differ significantly from LPS alone,∗P <0.01,∗∗P <0.001. |
Table 1.
Inhibitory effects of compounds 1–6 isolated from E. alatus leaves and twigs on NO production induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells
Concentration | 10 μ M | 20 μ M | 50 μ M | 100 μ M | IC50 μ M |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nitrite (μ M) | |||||
Control | 5.1 ± ± 0.2 | ||||
LPS | 56.5 ±0.3 | ||||
1 | 33.2 ± 1.9∗ | 20.2 ± 1.4∗ | 18.8 ± 2.7∗ | 15.4 ± 0.8∗∗ | 11.7 ± 1.2 |
2 | 29.3 ± 2.3∗ | 23.2 ± 1.6∗ | 11.2 ± 1.2∗∗ | 66.1 ± 0.1∗∗ | 9.3 ± 1.4 |
3 | 32.9 ± 1.7∗ | 26.4 ± 0.3∗ | 17.3 ± 1.5∗∗ | 14.9 ± 0.5∗∗ | 12.8 ± 2.0 |
4 | 26.6 ± 2.0∗ | 21.4 ± 1.5∗ | 68.7 ± 0.2∗∗ | 62.9 ± 0.1∗∗ | 8.5 ± 0.8 |
5 | 31.7 ± 1.5∗ | 24.2 ± 1.2∗ | 12.7 ± 0.8∗∗ | 66.9 ± 0.2∗∗ | 9.8 ± 2.0 |
6 | 48.8 ± 2.5 | 31.9 ± 0.9∗ | 29.8 ± 1.3∗ | 28.9 ± 1.0∗ | 21.3 ± 3.3 |
L-NAME | 48.5 ± 2.3 | ||||
L-NNA | 60.3 ± 1.7 | ||||
L-NMMA | 32.9 ± 2.2 |