Anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour effects of Abies georgei extracts.

Chloroform (AGC), ethyl acetate (AGE) and n-butanol (AGB) extracts of Abies georgei were investigated for anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory activities in-vitro and in-vivo. AGC exhibited potent antiproliferative effects against A549, LOVO, QGY-7703 and 6T-CEM tumour cells, with EC50 values of 77.5, 7.8, 11.1 and 32.8 microg mL(-1), respectively. It also inhibited the growth of S180 sarcoma implanted into mice; tumour growth inhibition ratios were 46.7, 53.1 and 31.0% of controls at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mgkg(-1), respectively. AGE showed significant anti-inflammatory activities in the carrageenin-induced acute pedal oedema model in rats and dimethylbenzene-induced ear oedema in mice at doses of 140 mgkg(-1) and 200 mgkg(-1) p.o., respectively. Primary mechanism studies in-vitro showed that AGE inhibited platelet aggregation induced in rabbits by arachidonic acid (AA), with an IC50 of 14.4 microg mL(-1). Its effect on AA metabolism was also studied in mouse peritoneal macrophages stimulated by A23187. Formation of prostaglandin E(2), leukotriene B(4) and 5S-hydroxy-6E,8Z,11Z,14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) was significantly inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, AGE inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW246.7 macrophages and nuclear factor kappaB activation induced in 293 cells by tumour necrosis factor alpha.