Inhibitory effect of Coptis chinensis on inflammation in LPS-induced endotoxemia.

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:

Rhizoma coptidis (RC) has been used as a remedy for inflammation-related diseases in traditional medicine. Although it is known to have anti-inflammatory activities, its mechanism of action on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation has not yet been identified in detail.

AIM OF THE STUDY:

This study was designed to assess the beneficial effects of pretreatment with RC in ameliorating LPS-induced liver inflammation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Mice were orally administered RC (500, 1000 mg/kg) for three days in a row. 1h after the last RC administration, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (35 mg/kg). After treatment, histological alterations and inflammatory factor levels in the liver and proinflammatory cytokines in the serum associated with inflammation were examined.

RESULTS:

We found that pretreatment with RC (500 and 1000 mg/kg) exerted a significant protective effect by attenuating liver histopathological changes in endotoxemic mice. The results also demonstrated that RC suppressed secretion of LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6). Furthermore, RC inhibited LPS-mediated nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation via the prevention of IκB-α phosphorylation, as well as the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPKs. These results were associated with decreases in the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (I-NOS).

CONCLUSIONS:

The results presented here clearly demonstrate that RC could significantly protect mice against LPS-induced acute liver injury.

• Authors: You Yeon Choi, Mi Hye Kim, Ik-Hyun Cho, Ji Hee Kim, Jongki Hong, Tae Hee Lee, Woong Mo Yang
• Journal: Journal of ethnopharmacology (J Ethnopharmacol) Vol. 149 Issue 2 Pg. 506-12 (Sep 16 2013) ISSN: 1872-7573 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 23871807 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• I-kappa B Proteins
• Interleukin-6
• Lipopolysaccharides
• NF-kappa B
• Nfkbia protein, mouse
• NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha
• Interferon-gamma
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
• Nos2 protein, mouse
• Ptgs2 protein, mouse
• Cyclooxygenase 2
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Coptis
• Cyclooxygenase 2 (metabolism)
• Endotoxemia (chemically induced, drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• Female
• Hepatitis (drug therapy, metabolism, pathology)
• I-kappa B Proteins (metabolism)
• Interferon-gamma (blood)
• Interleukin-6 (blood)
• Lipopolysaccharides
• Liver (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred ICR
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (metabolism)
• NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha
• NF-kappa B (metabolism)
• Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II (metabolism)
• Rhizome