Ethnopharmacological relevance: Cerbera manghas L. (Apocynaceae), a semi-mangrove medicinal plant distributed throughout tropical and subtropical countries, is traditionally known to possess analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsant, cardiotonic, and hypotensive activity. In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities of a methanol extract of the leaves of Cerbera manghas and the underlying molecular mechanisms were investigated to validate the ethnopharmacological use of this plant.
Materials and methods: The effect of Cerbera manghas methanol extract (Cm-ME) on the production of inflammatory mediators and the induction of HCl/EtOH-treated gastritis was explored using macrophages, HEK293 cells, and ICR mice. The molecular targets of this extract and potential active components in Cm-ME were also investigated.
Results: Cm-ME inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. This extract also suppressed the expression of NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. NF-κB-mediated enhancement of luciferase activity, nuclear translocation of p50 and p65, and phosphorylation of IκBα were markedly reduced by Cm-ME treatment. Direct enzyme assays, reporter gene assays, and immunoprecipitation analysis of kinases revealed Syk and Src as immunopharmacological targets of Cm-ME. Moreover, this extract strongly ameliorated the gastric symptoms induced by HCl/EtOH treatment of mice. Finally, HPLC analysis and pharmacological tests identified kaempferol as an active component of the extract with Src/Syk inhibitory activities.
Conclusion: Inhibition of Syk/Src and the NF-κB pathway by kaempferol could play a key role in the anti-inflammatory pharmacological action of Cerbera manghas.
Keywords: 3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, a tetrazole; AP-1; Anti-inflammatory effect; Apocynaceae; CMC; COX; Cerbera manghas L.; EIA; IKK; Inflammatory mediator; IκB kinase; IκBα; JNK; LPS; MTT; MyD88; NF-κB; NO; PEI; PG; PI3K; PMA; Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; RT-PCR; Src; Syk; TLR; activator protein-1; c-Jun N-terminal kinase; cyclooxygenase; enzyme immunoassay; iNOS; inducible NO synthase; inhibitor of kappa B alpha; lipopolysaccharide; myeloid differentiation primary response gene (88); nitric oxide; nuclear factor-κB; phosphoinositide-3-kinase; polyethylenimine.; prostaglandin; reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction; sodium carboxymethylcellulose; spleen tyrosine kinase; toll-like receptors (TLR).
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