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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Combination of Pelargonium sidoides and Coptis chinensis root inhibits nuclear factor kappa B-mediated inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo

Authors: Sang Mi Park, Byung-Gu Min, Ji Yun Jung, Kyung Hwan Jegal, Chul Won Lee, Kwang Youn Kim, Young Woo Kim, Youn-Woong Choi, Il Je Cho, Sae Kwang Ku, Sang Chan Kim

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Pelargonium sidoides (PS) and Coptis chinensis root (CR) have traditionally been used to treat various diseases, including respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, dysmenorrhea, and hepatic disorders. The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of a combination of PS and CR in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

The in vitro effects of PS + CR on the induction of inflammation-related proteins were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The levels of nitric oxide (NO) and of inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were measured using the Griess reagent and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods, respectively. The expression of inflammation-related proteins was confirmed by Western blot. Additionally, the effects of PS + CR on paw edema volume, skin thickness, and numbers of infiltrated inflammatory cells, mast cells, COX-2-, iNOS-, and TNF-α-immunoreactive cells in dorsum and ventrum pedis skin were evaluated in a rat model of carrageenan (CA)-induced paw edema.

Results

PS + CR significantly reduced production of NO, PGE2 and three pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6) and also decreased levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Treatment with PS + CR significantly reduced the protein expression levels of LPS-stimulated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and phosphorylated inhibitor of NF-κB (p-I-κBα). Additionally, PS + CR significantly inhibited the increases in paw swelling, skin thickness, infiltrated inflammatory cells, mast cell degranulation, COX-2-, iNOS-, and TNF-α-immunoreactive cells in the rat model of CA-induced acute edematous paw.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that PS + CR exhibits anti-inflammatory properties through decreasing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (NO, PGE2, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), suppressing NF-κB signaling in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, the results of the CA-induced rat paw edema assay revealed an anti-edema effect of PS + CR. Furthermore, it is suggested that PS + CR also inhibits acute edematous inflammation by suppressing mast cell degranulation and inflammatory mediators (COX-2, iNOS, and TNF-α). Thus, PS + CR may be a potential candidate for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases, and it may also contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying inflammatory response regulation.
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Metadata
Title
Combination of Pelargonium sidoides and Coptis chinensis root inhibits nuclear factor kappa B-mediated inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo
Authors
Sang Mi Park
Byung-Gu Min
Ji Yun Jung
Kyung Hwan Jegal
Chul Won Lee
Kwang Youn Kim
Young Woo Kim
Youn-Woong Choi
Il Je Cho
Sae Kwang Ku
Sang Chan Kim
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-018-2088-x

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