Potent inhibition of the inductions of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 by taiwaniaflavone

Nitric Oxide. 2006 Nov;15(3):217-25. doi: 10.1016/j.niox.2006.01.001. Epub 2006 Feb 20.

Abstract

The improper productions of nitric oxide and prostaglandins following the inductions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammation. Selaginella tamariscina is used as an oriental medicine for its anti-inflammatory effects. Here, we isolated taiwaniaflavone from S. tamariscina and investigated whether taiwaniaflavone affects the induction of iNOS and COX-2 in RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. We found that taiwaniaflavone blocks the transactivations of iNOS and COX-2 genes by blocking the nuclear translocation of p65 and subsequent nuclear factor-kappaB inactivation. It is known that NF-kappaB activation is controlled by the phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of I-kappaBalpha, and in the present study, we found that the phosphorylation and degradation of I-kappaBalpha were also inhibited by taiwaniaflavone. Our findings indicate that taiwaniaflavone may provide a developmental basis for an agent against inflammatory diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / genetics
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Enzyme Induction
  • Flavones / chemistry
  • Flavones / pharmacology*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / enzymology
  • Mice
  • Molecular Structure
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism*
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Selaginellaceae / chemistry
  • Transcriptional Activation

Substances

  • Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors
  • Flavones
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Plant Extracts
  • taiwaniaflavone
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Cyclooxygenase 2