Esculin exhibited anti-inflammatory activities in vivo and regulated TNF-α and IL-6 production in LPS-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro through MAPK pathway.

Abstract

Esculin, a coumarinic derivative found in Aesculus hippocastanum L. (Horse-chestnut), has been reported to have potent anti-inflammatory properties. The present study is designed to investigate the protective effects of esculin on various inflammation models in vivo and in vitro and to clarify the possible mechanism. Induced-animal models of inflammation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged mouse peritoneal macrophages were used to examine the anti-inflammatory activity of esculin. In present study, xylene-induced mouse ear edema, carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, and carrageenan-induced mouse pleurisy were attenuated by esculin. In vitro, the pro-inflammatory cytokine levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in supernatant were reduced by esculin. Meanwhile, we found that esculin significantly inhibited LPS-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in peritoneal macrophages. These results suggest that esculin has potent anti-inflammatory activities in vivo and in vitro, which may involve the inhibition of the MAPK pathway. Esculin may be a promising preventive agent for inflammatory diseases in human.

• Authors: Xiaofeng Niu, Yu Wang, Weifeng Li, Hailin Zhang, Xiumei Wang, Qingli Mu, Zehong He, Huan Yao
• Journal: International immunopharmacology (Int Immunopharmacol) Vol. 29 Issue 2 Pg. 779-786 (Dec 2015) ISSN: 1878-1705 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 26391063 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Interleukin-6
• Lipopolysaccharides
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Xylenes
• interleukin-6, mouse
• Esculin
• Carrageenan
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (pharmacology)
• Carrageenan
• Edema (chemically induced, prevention & control)
• Enzyme Activation (drug effects)
• Esculin (pharmacology)
• Female
• Interleukin-6 (biosynthesis)
• Lipopolysaccharides (pharmacology)
• Macrophages, Peritoneal (drug effects)
• Male
• Mice
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (drug effects)
• Pleurisy (chemically induced, prevention & control)
• Rats
• Signal Transduction (drug effects)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (biosynthesis)
• Xylenes