The Inhibitory Effects of Ulmus <i>davidiana</i> on the Reactive Species and Proinflammatory Proteins

Jo, Eun-young; Jeong, Ji-cheon

The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine > Volume 29(2); 2008 > Article

Original Article

The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine 2008;29(2): 421-431.

楡根皮 추출물의 활성종 억제 및 염증 촉진 인자 제어 효과

조은영, 정지천

동국대학교 한방병원 내과

The Inhibitory Effects of Ulmus davidiana on the Reactive Species and Proinflammatory Proteins

Eun-young Jo, Ji-cheon Jeong

Department of Oriental Internal Medicine, Hospital of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University

Correspondence

Eun-young Jo ,Tel: 054-770-1342, Fax: 054-770-1500, Email: party94@hanmail.net

Published online: June 30, 2008.

ABSTRACT

Objectives:
This study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of Ulmus davidiana on the generation of peroxynitrite (ONOO^-), nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion radicals (․O₂ ^-) in the endothelial cells of rat vessels. The effects of Ulmus davidiana on the expression of inflammation-related proteins, NF-κB (p50, p65), COX-2, and iNOS, were examined by western blotting.

Methods :
For this study, fluorescent probes, namely dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123), 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) and 2’,7’-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) were used. Western blotting was performed via using anti-NF-κB (p50, p65), anti-COX-2, and anti-iNOS, respectively.

Results:
Ulmus davidiana inhibited the generation of ONOO^-, NO and ․O₂ ^- in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated endothelial cells of rat vessels in vitro. Ulmus davidiana inhibited the expression of COX-2 and iNOS genes by means of decreasing the NF-κB activation.

Conclusions:
These results suggest Ulmus davidiana is effective on inhibiting the generation of ONOO^-, NO and ․O₂ ^-, and that therefore it might have a potential role as a treatment for the inflammatory process and inflammation-related diseases.

Key words: Ulmus davidiana, peroxynitrite, nitric oxide, superoxide anion radical, NF-κB.