Gentiolactone, a secoiridoid dilactone from Gentiana triflora, inhibits TNF-α, iNOS and Cox-2 mRNA expression and blocks NF-κB promoter activity in murine macrophages.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gentian roots have been used as a herbal medicine because of their anti-inflammatory activities. However, the molecular mechanisms of these anti-inflammatory effects remain to be completely explained.

Methods and findings

Here, we investigated anti-inflammatory effects of gentian roots and showed that root extracts from Gentiana triflora inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of TNF-α in RAW264.7 cells. The extracts also contained swertiamarin and gentiopicroside, which are the major active compounds of gentian roots; however, neither compound had any effect on LPS-induced TNF-α production in our test system. We isolated gentiolactone as an inhibitor of TNF-α production from the extracts. Gentiolactone also inhibited LPS-induced inducible nitric oxi

SUBMITTER: Yamada H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4244148 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature