Licochalcone a inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract

Licochalcone A (Lico A), a flavonoid found in licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), is known for its antimicrobial activity and its reported ability to inhibit cancer cell proliferation. In the present study, we found that Lico A exerted potent anti-inflammatory effects in in vitro and in vivo models induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The concentrations of TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β in the culture supernatants of RAW 264.7 cells were determined at different time points following LPS administration. LPS (0.5 mg/kg) was instilled intranasally (i.n.) in phosphate-buffered saline to induce acute lung injury, and 24 h after LPS was given, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was obtained to measure pro-inflammatory mediator and total cell counts. The phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 protein was analyzed by Western blotting. Our results showed that Lico A significantly reduced the amount of inflammatory cells, the lung wet-to-dry weight (W/D) ratio, protein leakage, and myeloperoxidase activity and enhances oxidase dimutase activity in mice with LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results indicated that Lico A can significantly down-regulate TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels in vitro and in vivo, and treatment with Lico A significantly attenuated alveolar wall thickening, alveolar hemorrhage, interstitial edema, and inflammatory cells infiltration in mice with ALI. In addition, we further demonstrated that Lico A exerts an anti-inflammation effect in an in vivo model of acute lung injury through suppression of NF-κB activation and p38/ERK MAPK signaling in a dose-dependent manner.

• Authors: Xiao Chu, Xinxin Ci, Miaomiao Wei, Xiaofeng Yang, Qingjun Cao, Mingfeng Guan, Hongyu Li, Yanhong Deng, Haihua Feng, Xuming Deng
• Journal: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry (J Agric Food Chem) Vol. 60 Issue 15 Pg. 3947-54 (Apr 18 2012) ISSN: 1520-5118 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22400806 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Chalcones
• Interleukin-6
• Lipopolysaccharides
• NF-kappa B
• Plant Extracts
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• licochalcone A

Topics

• Acute Lung Injury (chemically induced, drug therapy, genetics, immunology)
• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage)
• Cell Line
• Chalcones (administration & dosage)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Down-Regulation
• Glycyrrhiza (chemistry)
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 (genetics, immunology)
• Lipopolysaccharides (adverse effects, antagonists & inhibitors, immunology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• NF-kappa B (genetics, immunology)
• Plant Extracts (administration & dosage)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (genetics, immunology)