Mume fructus water extract inhibits pro-inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages

• Published in: Journal of medicinal food Vol. 10; no. 3; pp. 460 - 466
• Main Authors: Choi, H.J, Kang, O.H, Park, P.S, Chae, H.S, Oh, Y.C, Lee, Y.S, Choi, J.G, Lee, G.H, Kweon, O.H, Kwon, D.Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2007
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Cell Line; cultured cells; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors - pharmacology; Dinoprostone - antagonists & inhibitors; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases - metabolism; fruits (food); gene expression; herbal medicines; I-kappa B Proteins - antagonists & inhibitors; in vitro studies; inflammation; interleukin-6; Interleukin-6 - antagonists & inhibitors; Lipopolysaccharides - pharmacology; macrophages; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - metabolism; medicinal plants; Mice; NF-kappa B - antagonists & inhibitors; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - antagonists & inhibitors; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II - antagonists & inhibitors; nitrous oxide; nitrous oxide synthase; nuclear factor-kappaB; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Phosphorylation; plant extracts; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; prostaglandin synthase; prostaglandins; protein kinases; protein synthesis; Prunus mume; Rosaceae - chemistry
• ISSN: 1096-620X; 1557-7600
• DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2006.198

Mume Fructus (Family Rosaceae) is used as a traditional drug and health food in Asian countries. However, its therapeutic mechanisms and effects on macrophage-mediated inflammation remain unknown. In this study we examined the effect of Mume Fructus water extract (MFWE) on pro-inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The investigation focused on whether MFWE inhibited nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG) E2 productions, as well as the expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, interleukin (IL)-6, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. We found that MFWE inhibited LPS-induced NO, PGE(2), and IL-6 productions as well as the expressions of iNOS and COX-2. Furthermore, MFWE suppressed the LPS-induced phosphorylations of p38 MAPK and extracellular signal-regulated kinase MAPK, as well as IkappaBalpha degradation and NF-kappaB activation. These results suggest that MFWE has inhibitory effects on LPS-induced PGE2, NO, and IL-6 production, as well as the expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in the murine macrophage. These inhibitory effects occur through blockades on the phosphorylation of MAPKs following IkappaBalpha degradation and NF-kappaB activation.