Anti-inflammation effects of corn silk in a rat model of carrageenin-induced pleurisy.

Abstract

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleural layers that surround the lungs. Despite much research into inflammatory diseases, no drugs with favorable safety profiles are available yet for their treatment. Corn silk has been used in many parts of the world for the treatment of edema, cystitis, gout, kidney stones nephritis, and prostitutes. However, no scientific reports on the anti-inflammatory effects of corn silk were so far available. To test the anti-inflammatory efficacy of corn silk extract (CSEX) in a rat model of carrageenin (Cg)-induced pleurisy, exudate formation, and cellular infiltration, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), vascular endothelial growth factor alpha (VEGF-α), interleukin-17 (IL-17), C3 and C4 complement protein levels, adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation, and total antioxidant activity were studied, respectively. Pretreatment with CSEX reduced Cg-induced pleurisy exudate, number of leukocytes, oxidative stress, C3 protein level, and O (2)(-) levels at the inflammatory site. Pretreatment with CSEX also inhibited TNF-α, IL-1β, VEGF-α, and IL-17A and blocked inflammation-related events (ICAM-1 and iNOS) by activation of NF-κB. Supplementation with CSEX may be a promising treatment for inflammatory diseases that involve oxidative stress.

• Authors: Guang-Qiang Wang, Tao Xu, Xue-Mei Bu, Bao-Yi Liu
• Journal: Inflammation (Inflammation) Vol. 35 Issue 3 Pg. 822-7 (Jun 2012) ISSN: 1573-2576 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21898269 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Complement C3
• Complement C4
• Interleukin-17
• Interleukin-1beta
• NF-kappa B
• Plant Extracts
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat
• Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
• Carrageenan
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Carrageenan
• Complement C3 (metabolism)
• Complement C4 (metabolism)
• Female
• Inflammation (drug therapy)
• Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (blood)
• Interleukin-17 (blood)
• Interleukin-1beta (blood)
• NF-kappa B (blood)
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II (blood)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Phytotherapy
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Plant Structures
• Pleural Cavity (metabolism)
• Pleurisy (chemically induced, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Random Allocation
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (blood)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (blood)
• Zea mays