Korean J Med Mycol.  2010 Jun;15(2):39-50.

Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidant Effects of Sophora flavescens Root Extraction in Lipopolysaccharide-activated Raw 264.7 Cells

• Lee DH
• Sohn DS
• Cho DY
• Kim BJ
• Lim YY
• Kim YH

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The macrophages activated by lipopolisaccharide produce numerous molecules and proteins, such as tumor necrotic factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1beta, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and free radicals, associated with inflammation. The response was occurred by intracellular cascaded, NF-kappaB pathway. So, the regulation of this pathway is very important in control of inflammation.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of Sophora flavescens that is used empirically in oriental medicine and folk remedy were evaluated and the mechanism of the effects was studied.
METHODS
By using the root extracts of Sophora flavescens, we performed experiment in LPS and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-activated Raw 264.7 cells. We measured the production of NO, PGE2 and expression of iNOS and COX-2 in activated Raw 264.7 cells with Sophora flavescens root extract. Also, we tested anti-oxidant effect of Sophora flavescens root extracts by ELISA kit in activated Raw 264.7 cells, and the free radical scavenging effect of material itself by DPPH assay.
RESULTS
The Sophora flavescens root extracts decreased the production of NO (p<0.001) and PGE2 (p<0.01) in Raw 264.7 cells activated by LPS and IFN-gamma. The expression of proteins, iNOS and COX-2, suppressed along with the elevated concentration of Sophora flavescens root extracts. The result of DPPH assay was that the test material itself had scavenging effect for free radical (p<0.001). And the antioxidant activity in activated Raw 264.7 cells was increased with the level of the Sophora flavescens root extracts (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The Sophora flavescens root extracts suppressed the production of NO and PGE2 through the decreased expression of iNOS and COX-2. And the Sophora flavescens root extracts had the scavenging effect about free radicals itself and increased the antioxidant activity in activated macrophages.

Keyword

Sophora flavescens; iNOS; COX-2

MeSH Terms

Antioxidants
Cyclooxygenase 2
Dinoprostone
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Free Radicals
Inflammation
Interferon-gamma
Interleukin-6
Macrophages
Medicine, East Asian Traditional
Medicine, Traditional
NF-kappa B
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
Proteins
Sophora
Antioxidants
Cyclooxygenase 2
Dinoprostone
Free Radicals
Interferon-gamma
Interleukin-6
NF-kappa B
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
Proteins