Anti-inflammatory activities of Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii extract through the inhibition of MMP-9 and AP-1 activation.

Physalis alkekengi has been traditionally used for the treatment of coughs, middle ear infections, and sore throats in Korea, Europe, and China. It exhibits a variety of pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer effects. The anti-inflammatory effects of the P. alkekengi methanol extract (PA) and its molecular mechanisms have not yet been fully investigated. In the present study, the chromatogram of PA was established by UPLC analysis. The anti-inflammatory effects of PA were also investigated using murine microphage cell lines, RAW 264.7 cells, and a murine model of OVA induced asthma. In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, PA reduced the MMP-9 expression with decreases in the production of nitric oxide, inteleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Furthermore, PA suppressed the phosphorylation of MAPKs, which resulted in the inhibition of AP-1 activation. These effects of PA were consistent with the results of the in vivo experiment. PA-treated mice significantly inhibited inflammatory cell counts and cytokine production in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and airway-hyperresponsiveness in OVA-induced asthmatic mice. PA treated mice also showed a marked inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase and MMP-9 expression. In conclusion, our results suggest that PA may be a valuable therapeutic material in treating various inflammatory diseases, including allergic asthma.