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A molecular pharmacology study into the anti-inflammatory actions of Euphorbia hirta L. on the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells through selective iNOS protein inhibition

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Abstract

Euphorbia hirta L. has been widely used in India and Chinese society. The molecular pharmacology basis of its anti-inflammatory effect is revealed in this work. The ethanol extract of Euphorbia hirta L. (Eh) and its active component were studied in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophage cells (RAW 264.7) as an established inflammation model. After activation, nitric oxide (NO) production and expression of iNOS protein and iNOS mRNA were measured by using a colorimetric assay (Griess reagent), western blotting, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. The alteration in the content of PGE2, TNFα, and IL-6 was concurrently monitored by ELISA. In results, we found that in the concentration range without showing cytotoxicity, Eh produced a remarkable anti-inflammatory effect via its active component of β-amyrin and showed a dose-related inhibition of LPS-induced NO production. This phenomenon is in accordance with a substantial inhibition of iNOS protein. However, the expression of iNOS gene was unaffected by Eh treatments. Compared with indomethacin, Eh has much more potency and a specific action of NO inhibition but Eh works less specifically on PGE2, IL-6, and TNF-α inhibition. The extract of Euphorbia hirta L. and its component β-amyrin are able to block most of the iNOS protein functions and NO induction, and could therefore be new selective NO inhibitors with great potential in treating arthritis inflammation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC

    Mei-Fen Shih

  2. Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan, ROC

    Yih-Dih Cheng

  3. Department of Medical Biotechnology and Lab Sciences, Chang Gung University, Chia-Yi, Taiwan, ROC

    Chia-Rui Shen

  4. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Rd., Chia-Yi, Taiwan, ROC

    Jong-Yuh Cherng

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  1. Mei-Fen Shih
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  2. Yih-Dih Cheng
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  3. Chia-Rui Shen
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  4. Jong-Yuh Cherng
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Correspondence to Jong-Yuh Cherng.

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Shih, MF., Cheng, YD., Shen, CR. et al. A molecular pharmacology study into the anti-inflammatory actions of Euphorbia hirta L. on the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells through selective iNOS protein inhibition. J Nat Med 64, 330–335 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-010-0417-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11418-010-0417-6

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