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Inner Anti-inflammatory Mechanisms of Petroleum Ether Extract from Melilotus suaveolens Ledeb.

Zhao L, Tao JY, Zhang SL, Pang R, Jin F, Dong JH, Guo YJ

Department of Hepatology and Infectious Disease, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, People’s Republic of China, baihuasheshecao@163.com.

Melilotus suaveolens Ledeb is a species of traditional medical plant for treating inflammation-related disease. This study is to explore the inner anti-inflammatory mechanism on petroleum ether extract from Melilotus suaveolens Ledeb. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inflammatory cellular model was founded by intervention of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on RAW264.7 cell line. Secretion of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, NO and IL-10 in supernatant, mRNA expression of TNF-alpha, COX-2, iNOS and HO-1, protein expression of COX-2 and HO-1, activation of NF-kappaB and ingredients in the extract were assayed. RESULTS: The extract could not only reduce production of pro-inflammatory mediators by blocking NF-kappaB activation but promote release of anti-inflammatory mediator HO-1 significantly. The only active ingredient in the extract was coumarin and the concentration of coumarin in each 1 g extract was 0.27822 mg. CONCLUSION: Compared to Dexamethasone, the extract not only has similar effects on antagonizing pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines but has effects on promoting production of anti-inflammatory mediators.

Published 12 December 2007 in Inflammation, 30(6): 213-223.
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