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Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity of total flavonoids of the roots of Sophora flavescens

Authors Jin, Jeong Ho; Kim, Ju Sun; Kang, Sam Sik; Son, Kun Ho; Chang, Hyun Wook; Kim, Hyun Pyo

Journal JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY , FEB 17 2010,3:127

DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2009.12.020 PubMed 20034551

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance: The roots of Sophora flavescens have long been used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of fever, inflammatory disorders, ulcers and skin burns. Sophora flavescens contains flavonoids and alkaloids.Aim of the study: This study was conducted to develop a plant-based anti-inflammatory agent focused on chronic inflammatory disorders. To accomplish this, the alkaloid-free prenylated flavonoid-enriched fraction (PFS) of rhizomes of Sophora flavescens was prepared and its in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities were then evaluated for the first time.Materials and methods: The inhibitory activity of PFS on PGE(2), NO, IL-6 and TNF-alpha production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells was measured. Additionally, adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats was used as an animal model of chronic inflammation to establish the in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of PFS.Result: PFS inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-catalyzed PGE(2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-catalyzed NO production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells at 10-50 mu g/ml, and these effects primarily occurred via COX-2 inhibition and iNOS down-regulation, respectively. PFS also inhibited IL-6 and TNF-alpha production. When tested against adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats (chronic inflammation), PFS strongly inhibited arthritic inflammation when administered orally at doses of 10-100 mg/kg/day. In addition, PFS administered orally potently inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing in mice.Conclusions: Our results suggest that PFS inhibits chronic inflammatory response and the inhibition of proinflammatory molecules such as COX-2, iNOS and IL-6 may contribute, at least in part, to the anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. Overall, these results indicate that PFS from Sophora flavescens may have the potential for treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Species covered 苦参 Sophora flavescens