Anti-inflammatory activity of the water extract of <i>Polygala tenuifolia</i> Willd

Oh, Hyun-suk; Kim, Byoung-woo

The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine > Volume 34(2); 2013 > Article

Original Article

The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine 2013;34(2): 204-214.

遠志의 항염증 작용에 대한 연구

오현석, 김병우

상지대학교부속한방병원 내과

Anti-inflammatory activity of the water extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willd

Hyun-suk Oh, Byoung-woo Kim

Dept. of Internal Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Sang-Ji University

Correspondence

Byoung-woo Kim ,Tel: 033-741-9216, Fax: 033-741-9383, Email: kbw-omd@hanmail.net

Published online: June 30, 2013.

ABSTRACT

Objectives:
This study was designed to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory activity of the water extract of Polygala tenuifolia Willd. (Pt-WE).

Methods :
Using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine RAW264.7 cells, we examined inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). Also, the inhibitory effect of Pt-WE on the activity of activator protein 1 (AP-1) and upstream signaling molecules was evaluated. To assess the protective effect of Pt-WE on hydrochloride/ethanol (HCl/EtOH)-induced gastric ulcer in mice, we compared Pt-WE (200 mg/kg) with ranitidine (50 mg/kg) treated mice's gastric mucosa, based on gross observations.

Results:
Pt-WE inhibited LPS-induced production of NO, PGE2 in a dose-dependent manner, without causing cytotoxicity. Pt-WE suppressed AP-1 activation by reducing generations of both c-Jun and c-Fos. In addition, Pt-WE inhibited the p-MKK 4/7 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4/7) and p-JNK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase) 1 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. HCl/EtOH-induced gastric ulcer lesions were inhibited by pre-treatment of Pt-WE based on gross observations. In addition, Pt-WE decreased the phosphorylation level of JNK.

Conclusions:
These results demonstrate that Pt-WE has anti-inflammatory and gastroprotective effects. Thus, Pt-WE may be used widely in treatment of not only neurodegenerative diseases but also inflammatory diseases.

Key words: Polygala tenuifolia, anti-inflammation, activator protein 1 (AP-1), signaling pathway, animal experiment