Esculentoside A Inhibits Tumor Necrosis Factor, Interleukin-1, and Interleukin-6 Production Induced by Lipopolysaccharide in Mice

• Published in: Pharmacology Vol. 56; no. 4; pp. 187 - 195
• Main Authors: Ju, Dian Wen, Zheng, Qin Yue, Cao, Xuetao, Fang, Jun, Wang, Hong Bin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 01.04.1998
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - pharmacology; Cell Division - drug effects; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - pharmacology; Interleukin-1 - metabolism; Interleukin-6 - metabolism; Lipopolysaccharides - antagonists & inhibitors; Macrophages, Peritoneal - drug effects; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Oleanolic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Original Paper; Regression Analysis; Saponins - pharmacology; Shock, Septic - drug therapy; Shock, Septic - metabolism; Thymus Gland - drug effects; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; Interleukin-1; Esculentoside A; Tumor necrosis factor; Anti-inflammation; Interleukin-6
• ISSN: 0031-7012; 1423-0313
• DOI: 10.1159/000028197

Esculentoside A, a kind of saponin isolated from the root of the Chinese herb Phytolaca esculenta, is reported to possess potent anti-inflammatory effects in acute and chronic experimental models. In the present study, we investigated the effects of esculentoside A on the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. In vitro experiments demonstrated that esculentoside A (0.1–10 µmol/l) significantly reduced the release of TNF from the peritoneal macrophages derived from mice pretreated with thioglycolate. IL-1 and IL-6 secretion was also obviously inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by esculentoside A from 0.01 to 10 µmol/l. In vivo experiments demonstrated that detectable TNF was observed 0.25 h after injection, was maximal at 0.5 h, and returned to baseline at 4 h. Maximal production of IL-1 and IL-6 were observed to be 1 and 2 h, respectively, after injection of LPS. Pretreatment of mice with 5, 10, or 20 mg/kg esculentoside A once a day for 7 consecutive days dose-dependently decreased the TNF, IL-1 and IL-6 levels in the sera of mice following LPS challenge. TNF, IL-1, and IL-6 are important cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory lesions. Inhibition of inflammatory cytokine production may contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects of esculentoside A.