Jae-Hun Ahn1, Yae-Lyeon Park2, A-Young Song3, Wan-Gyu Kim4, Chang-Yun Je5, Do-Hyeon Jung6, Yeong-Jun Kim7, Jisu Oh8, Jeong-Yong Cho9, Dong-Jae Kim10, Jong-Hwan Park11. 1. Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK 21 PLUS Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: hun2wawa@hanmail.net. 2. Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK 21 PLUS Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: curoyaong@naver.com. 3. Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK 21 PLUS Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: 4107say@naver.com. 4. Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK 21 PLUS Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: namootneep@naver.com. 5. Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK 21 PLUS Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jchy0207@naver.com. 6. Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK 21 PLUS Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jdh6221@naver.com. 7. Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK 21 PLUS Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kimyj0587@naver.com. 8. Department of Food and Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dhwltn7117@naver.com. 9. Department of Food and Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jyongcho17@jnu.ac.kr. 10. Laboraotry Animal Resource Center, DGIST, Daegu, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kimdj@dgist.ac.kr. 11. Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and BK 21 PLUS Project Team, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, 61186, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jonpark@jnu.ac.kr.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kitam (A. scoparia) is a perennial herbal plant that is widely used as a folk remedy in Asian countries. Several studies have demonstrated that A. scoparia has various physiological effects, including anti-inflammation, anti-hypertension, anti-obesity, anti-hepatotoxicity, and anti-oxidant effects. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective of the present study was to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of water extract of A. scoparia (WAS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), human monocyte THP-1 and murine fibroblast 3T3-L1 cells were used for the in vitro experiments. Cell viability and cytokine production were determined by the MTT assay and ELISA, respectively. RT-PCR was performed to determine iNOS gene expression and the Griess reaction was used to measure nitrite levels. iNOS protein expression, activation of NF-κB and MAPKs, and cleavage of caspase-1 and IL-1β were determined by Western blot analysis. A carrageenan-induced mouse model of acute inflammation was used in the in vivo experiments. RESULTS: Pretreatment with WAS concentration-dependently suppressed gene expression and IL-6, TNF-α, CXCL1 and iNOS protein levels in BMDMs stimulated with LPS. In addition, pretreatment with WAS inhibited LPS-induced production of IL-6 and TNF-α in THP-1 cells and CXCL1 in 3T3-L1. Furthermore, LPS induced phosphorylation of p65 in BMDMs, and this induction was dramatically suppressed by WAS pretreatment. We further investigated whether WAS regulates activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which is known to be essential for IL-1β processing. WAS inhibited the production of IL-1β, but not IL-6, in response to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and monosodium uric acid (MSU) crystals in LPS-primed BMDMs. Cleavage of caspase-1 and IL-1β was also reduced by WAS. We finally evaluated the in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of WAS in a mouse model of carrageenan-induced acute inflammation. Subcutaneous administration of WAS reduced production of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, CXCL1, and IL-1β. Recruitment of immune cells, mostly neutrophils, was also reduced by administration of WAS. Infiltration of inflammatory cells and edema in the submucosa of air pouch tissues were markedly improved in the WAS-treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that WAS possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties. These findings suggest that A. scoparia is a candidate functional food targeting several inflammatory diseases.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kitam (A. scoparia) is a perennial herbal plant that is widely used as a folk remedy in Asian countries. Several studies have demonstrated that A. scoparia has various physiological effects, including anti-inflammation, anti-hypertension, anti-obesity, anti-hepatotoxicity, and anti-oxidant effects. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective of the present study was to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of water extract of A. scoparia (WAS). MATERIALS AND METHODS:Murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), human monocyte THP-1 and murine fibroblast 3T3-L1 cells were used for the in vitro experiments. Cell viability and cytokine production were determined by the MTT assay and ELISA, respectively. RT-PCR was performed to determine iNOS gene expression and the Griess reaction was used to measure nitrite levels. iNOS protein expression, activation of NF-κB and MAPKs, and cleavage of caspase-1 and IL-1β were determined by Western blot analysis. A carrageenan-induced mouse model of acute inflammation was used in the in vivo experiments. RESULTS: Pretreatment with WAS concentration-dependently suppressed gene expression and IL-6, TNF-α, CXCL1 and iNOS protein levels in BMDMs stimulated with LPS. In addition, pretreatment with WAS inhibited LPS-induced production of IL-6 and TNF-α in THP-1 cells and CXCL1 in 3T3-L1. Furthermore, LPS induced phosphorylation of p65 in BMDMs, and this induction was dramatically suppressed by WAS pretreatment. We further investigated whether WAS regulates activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which is known to be essential for IL-1β processing. WAS inhibited the production of IL-1β, but not IL-6, in response to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and monosodium uric acid (MSU) crystals in LPS-primed BMDMs. Cleavage of caspase-1 and IL-1β was also reduced by WAS. We finally evaluated the in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of WAS in a mouse model of carrageenan-induced acute inflammation. Subcutaneous administration of WAS reduced production of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, CXCL1, and IL-1β. Recruitment of immune cells, mostly neutrophils, was also reduced by administration of WAS. Infiltration of inflammatory cells and edema in the submucosa of air pouch tissues were markedly improved in the WAS-treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that WAS possesses potent anti-inflammatory properties. These findings suggest that A. scoparia is a candidate functional food targeting several inflammatory diseases.