Methanol Extracts of Stewartia koreana Inhibit Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) Gene Expression by Blocking NF-κB Transactivation in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 Cells

• Published in: Molecules and cells 2007, 23(3), , pp.398-404
• Main Authors: Lee, T.H. (Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea), Kwak, H.B. (Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, Republic of Korea), Kim, H.H. (Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, Republic of Korea), Lee, Z.H. (Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, Republic of Korea), Chung, D.K. (Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea), Baek, N.I. (Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea), Kim, J.Y. (Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea), E-mail: [e-mail]
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cyclooxygenase-2; INFLAMACION; INFLAMMATION; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nuclear factor kappa B; Stewartia koreana; 생물학
• ISSN: 1016-8478; 0219-1032
• DOI: 10.1016/S1016-8478(23)10731-X

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are involved in various pathophysiological processes such as inflammation and carcinogenesis. In a search for inhibitors of COX-2 and iNOS production we found that extracts of Stewartia koreana strongly inhibited NO and PGE₂ production in LPS-treated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. We have now shown that the mRNA and protein levels of iNOS and COX-2 are reduced by the Stewartia koreana extract (SKE). SKE inhibited expression of an NF-κB reporter gene in response to LPS, and gel mobility shift assays revealed that SKE reduced NF-κB DNA-binding activity.