Inhibitory effects of Dianthi Herba ethanolic extract on inflammatory and nociceptive responses in murine macrophages and mouse models of abdominal writhing and ear edema.

Abstract

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:

Dianthi Herba is a traditional herbal medicine used to treat inflammatory-related diseases including acute pyelonephritis, cystitis, laryngopharyngitis, and urethritis.

AIM OF THE STUDY:

We investigated the effects of Dianthi Herba ethanolic extract (DH) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammatory responses in murine macrophages including RAW 264.7 cell line and mouse peritoneal macrophages as well as nociceptive and edema mouse models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The biological effects of DH on inflammatory cytokine, mediator, and related protein production were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting, and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR). Additionally, Western blotting was performed to investigate intracellular signaling pathways, and the anti-nociceptive activity of three doses of DH (100, 200, and 300mg/kg) against acetic acid-induced writhing responses and its inhibitory effects on xylene-induced ear edema were researched in mice through oral administration.

RESULTS:

DH treatment significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) secretion and inflammatory cytokine production in RAW 264.7 cells and mouse peritoneal macrophages and induced heme oxygenase (HO)-1 expression. DH strongly inhibited the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor (NF)-κB and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Meanwhile, DH exerted anti-nociceptive effects on writhing responses and anti-edema effects in mice.

CONCLUSION:

We confirmed the anti-inflammatory activities and inhibitory mechanism of DH in macrophages and clarified its inhibitory effects in vivo. These findings illustrate the therapeutic potential of DH as a natural anti-inflammatory agent.

• Authors: You-Chang Oh, Yun Hee Jeong, Won-Kyung Cho, Youn-Hwan Hwang, Jin Yeul Ma
• Journal: Journal of ethnopharmacology (J Ethnopharmacol) Vol. 211 Pg. 375-383 (Jan 30 2018) ISSN: 1872-7573 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 28917973 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Cytokines
• NF-kappa B
• Phytochemicals
• Plant Extracts
• Xylenes
• Nitric Oxide
• Heme Oxygenase-1
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
• Acetic Acid

Topics

• Acetic Acid
• Analgesics (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Cells, Cultured
• Cytokines (genetics, metabolism)
• Dianthus
• Edema (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Heme Oxygenase-1 (metabolism)
• Macrophages, Peritoneal (drug effects, metabolism)
• Male
• Medicine, East Asian Traditional
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Inbred ICR
• Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (metabolism)
• NF-kappa B (metabolism)
• Nitric Oxide (metabolism)
• Pain (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Phytochemicals (analysis, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Plant Extracts (analysis, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• RAW 264.7 Cells
• Xylenes