Abstract

Lithospermi radix (LR, root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Siebold. et Zuccarinii) has been used to treat various conditions, such as septic shock, eczema and burns. In this study, the effect of LR on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-γ)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were examined using mouse peritoneal macrophages. At 0.01-1 mg/ml, LR inhibited the LPS/rIFN-γ- induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and TNF-alpha release. To clarify the mechanism involved, the effect of LR on the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB was examined. The LPS/rIFN-γ-induced activation of NF-kappaB was almost completely blocked by LR at 1 mg/ml without cytotoxicity. These findings demonstrate that the inhibition of the LPS/rIFN-γ-induced production of NO and TNF-alpha by LR involves the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation. © 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Author keywords

Anti-inflammatory effects; Lithospermi radix; Nitric oxide; Peritoneal macrophages; Tumor necrosis factor-α

Indexed keywords

EMTREE drug terms: immunoglobulin enhancer binding protein; inducible nitric oxide synthase; lipopolysaccharide; lithospermi radix extract; plant extract; recombinant gamma interferon; tumor necrosis factor alpha; unclassified drug

EMTREE medical terms: animal cell; article; controlled study; cytokine release; drug cytotoxicity; lithospermum root; male; medicinal plant; mouse; nonhuman; peritoneum macrophage; protein expression

MeSH: Animals; Interferon Type II; Lipopolysaccharides; Lithospermum; Macrophages, Peritoneal; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; NF-kappa B; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Plant Extracts; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.

Species Index: Animalia; Lithospermum; Lithospermum erythrorhizon

Chemicals and CAS Registry Numbers: inducible nitric oxide synthase, 501433-35-8;Interferon Type II, 82115-62-6; Lipopolysaccharides; NF-kappa B; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II, EC 1.14.13.39; Nitric Oxide, 10102-43-9; Plant Extracts; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Manufacturers:Drug manufacturer: sunten, Taiwan.