The Effect of Prunella on Anti-Inflammatory Activity in RAW264.7 Mouse Macrophage Cells

Abstract

The extracts of Prunella vulgaris L. (Labiatae), a popular Western and Chinese herbal medicine, was shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, which might be due to partially, their rosmarinic acid content. Inhition of prostaglandine E2 (PGE2) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells was assessed with an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) following 8-hour treatments with Prunella vulgaris extracts or fractions. Results showed that 95% ethanol extracts from P. vulgaris significantly inhibited PGE2 production. In further studies, fraction 2 from the 95% ethanol extract of P. vulgaris significantly reduced PGE2 production at 66 µg/ml (72% reduction). Cytotoxic-ity did not play a role in the noted reduction of PGE2 seen in either the extracts or fractions from P. vulgaris. High performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that there was 1.4 mM rosmarinic acid in 95% ethanol Prunella extract (201 mg/ml crude extract). Our results suggest that rosmarinic acid may contribute toward the anti-inflammatory activity of Prunella in a dose-response manner. Prunella might have a potential to be used as a functional food for anti-inflammatory activity.

Share and Cite:

M. Kim, "The Effect of Prunella on Anti-Inflammatory Activity in RAW264.7 Mouse Macrophage Cells," Food and Nutrition Sciences, Vol. 3 No. 9, 2012, pp. 1290-1295. doi: 10.4236/fns.2012.39170.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] D. Chattopadhyay, M. Chawla-Sarkar, T. Chatterjee, R. S. Dey, P. Bag, S. Chakraborti and M. T. Khan, “Recent Advancements for the Evaluation of Anti-Viral Activities of Natural Products,” New Biotechnology, Vol. 25, No. 5, 2009, pp. 347-368. doi:10.1016/j.nbt.2009.03.007
[2] X. Fang, R. C. Chang, W. H. Yues and S. Y. Zee, “Immune Modulatory Effects of Prunella vulgaris L.,” International Journal of Molecular Medicine, Vol. 15, No. 3, 2005, pp. 491-496.
[3] X. Fang, M. M. Yu, W. Yuen, S. Y. Zee and R. C. Chang, “Immune Modulatory Effects of Prunella vulgaris L. on Monocytes/Macrophages,” International Journal of Molecular Medicine, Vol. 16, No. 6, 2005, pp. 1109-1116.
[4] T. K. Au, T. L. Lam, T. B. Ng, W. P. Fong and D. C. Wan, “A Comparison of HIV-1 Integrase Inhibition by Aqueous and Methanol Extracts of Chinese Medicinal Herbs,” Life Sciences, Vol. 68, No. 14, 2001, pp. 1687-1694. doi:10.1016/S0024-3205(01)00945-6
[5] H. X. Xu, S. H. Lee, S. F. Lee, R. L. White and J. Blay, “Isolation and Characterization of an Anti-HSV Polysaccharide from Prunella vulgaris,” Antiviral Research, Vol. 44, No. 1, 1999, pp. 43-54. doi:10.1016/S0166-3542(99)00053-4
[6] G. Zhang, L. He, and M. Hu, “Optimized Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Flavonoids from Prunella vulgaris L. and Evaluation of Antioxidant Activities in Vitro,” Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2011, pp. 18-25. doi:10.1016/j.ifset.2010.12.003
[7] J. Psotova, A. Svobodova, H. Kolarova and D. Walterova, “Photoprotective Properties of Prunella vulgaris and Rosmarinic Acid on Human Keratinocytes,” Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, Vol. 84, No. 3, 2006, pp. 167-174. doi:10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2006.02.012
[8] S. Ramachandran and N. R. Prasad, “Effect of Ursolic Acid, a Triterpenoid Antioxidant, on Ultraviolet-B Radiation-Induced Cytotoxicity, Lipid Peroxidation and DNA Damage in Human Lymphocytes,” Chemico-Biological Interations, Vol. 176, No. 2-3, 2009, pp. 99-107. doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2008.08.010
[9] U. S. Harput, I. Saracoglu and Y. Ogihara, “Effects of Two Prunella Species on Lymphocyte Proliferation and Nitric Oxide Production,” Phytotherapy Research, Vol. 20, No. 2, 2006, pp. 157-159. doi:10.1002/ptr.1805
[10] J. Psotova, M. Kolar, J. Sousek, Z. Svagera, J. Vicar and J. Ulrichova, “Biological Activities of Prunella vulgaris Extract,” Phytotherapy Research, Vol. 17, No. 9, 2003, pp. 1082-1087. doi:10.1002/ptr.1324
[11] S. Y. Ryu, M. H. Oak, S. K. Yoon, D. I. Cho, G. S. Yoo, T. S. Kim and K. M. Kim, “Anti-Allergic and Anti-Inflammatory Triterpenes from the Herb of Prunella vulgaris,” Planta Medica, Vol. 66, No. 4, 2000, pp. 358-360. doi:10.1055/s-2000-8531
[12] S. Liu, S Jiang, Z. Wu, L. Lv, J. Zhang, Z. Zhu and S. Wu, “Identification of Inhibitors of the HIV-1 gp41 Six-Helix Bundle Formation from Extracts of Chinese Medicinal Herbs Prunella vulgaris and Rhizoma cibotte,” Life Sciences, Vol. 71, No. 15, 2002, pp. 1779-1791. doi:10.1016/S0024-3205(02)01939-2
[13] S. Kageyama, M. Kurokawa and K. Shirake, “Extract of Prunella vulgaris Spikes Inhibits HIV Replication at Reverse Transcription in Vitro and Can Be Absorbed from Intestine in Vivo,” Antivirus Chemistry and Chemotherapy, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2000, pp. 157-164.
[14] T. L. Lam, M. L. Lam, T. K. Au, D. T. IP, T. B. Ng, W. P. Fong and D. C. Wan, “A Comparison of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 Protease Inhibition Activities by the Aqueous and Methanol Extracts of Chinese Medicinal Herbs,” Life Sciences, Vol. 67, No. 23, 2000, pp. 2889-2896. doi:10.1016/S0024-3205(00)00864-X
[15] K. Yamasaki, M. Nakano, T. Kawahata, H. Mori, T. Otake, N. Ueba, I Oishi, R Inami, M. Yamane, M. Nakamura, H. Murata and T. Nakanish, “Anti-HIV-1 Activity of Herbs in Labiatae,” Biological and Pharmaceutical Bull, Vol. 21, No. 8, 1998, pp. 829-833. doi:10.1248/bpb.21.829
[16] H. D. Tabba, R. S. Chang and K. M. Smith, “Isolation, Purification, and Partial Characterization of Prunellin, an Anti-HIV Component from Aqueous Extracts of Prunella vulgaris,” Antiviral Research, Vol. 11, No. 5-6, 1989, pp. 263-273. doi:10.1016/0166-3542(89)90036-3
[17] L. C. Chiu, W. Zhu and V. E. Ooi, “A Polysaccharide Fraction from Medicinal Herb Prunella vulgaris Downregulates the Expression of Herpes Simplex Virus Antigen in Vero Cells,” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol. 93, No. 1, 2004, pp. 63-68. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.03.024
[18] X. J. Yao, M. A. Wainberg and M. A. Parniak, “Mechanism of Inhibition of HIV-1 Infection in Vitro by Purified Extract of Prunella vulgaris,” Viology, Vol. 187, No. 1, 1992, pp. 56-62. doi:10.1016/0042-6822(92)90294-Y
[19] T. Y. Shin, Y. K. Kim and H. M. Kim, “Inhibition of Immediate-Type Allergic Reactions by Prunella vulgaris in a Murine Model,” Immunopharmocology and Immunotoxicology, Vol. 23, No. 3, 2001, pp. 423-435. doi:10.1081/IPH-100107341
[20] F. Liu and T. B. Ng, “Anti-Oxidative and Free Radical Scavenging Activities of Selected Medicinal Herbs,” Life Sciences, Vol. 66, No. 8, 2000, pp. 725-735. doi:10.1016/S0024-3205(99)00643-8
[21] J. L. Lamaison, C. Petitjean-Freytet and A. Carnat, “Medicinal Laminaceae with Antioxidant Properties, a Potential Source of Rosmarinic Acid,” Pharmaceutica Acta Helvetiae, Vol. 66, No. 7, 1991, pp. 185-188.
[22] N. Skottavá, L. Kazdová, O. Oliyarnyk, R. Vecera, L. Sobolová and J. Ulrichová, “Phenolics-Rich Extracts from Silybum Marianum and Prunella vulgaris Reduce a High-Sucrose Diet Induced Oxidative Stress in Hereditary Hypertriglyceridemic Rats,” Pharmacological Research, Vol. 50, No. 2, 2004, pp. 123-130. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2003.12.013
[23] C. Weitzel and M. Petersen, “Cloning and Characterization of Rosmarinic Acid Synthase from Melissa officinalis L.,” Phytochemistry, Vol. 72, No. 7, 2011, pp. 572-578. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2011.01.039
[24] S. Kim, E. J. Yun, J. S. Bak, H. Lee, S. J. Lee, C. T. Kim, J. H. Lee and K. H. Kim, “Response Surface Optimized Extraction and Chromatographic Purification of Rosmarinic Acid from Melissa officinalis Leaves,” Food Chemistry, Vol. 121, No. 2, 2010, pp. 521-526. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2009.12.040
[25] M. ?ztürk, M. E. Duru, B. ?nce, M. Harmandar and G. Top?u, “A New Rapid Spectrophotometric Method to Determine the Rosmarinic Acid Level in Plant Extracts,” Food Chemistry, Vol. 123, No. 4, 2010, pp. 1352-1356. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2010.06.021
[26] J. Toth, M. Mrlianová, D. Tekel’Ová and M. Korenová, “Rosmarinic Acid. An Important Phenolic Active Compound of Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.),” Acta Facultatis Pharmanceutical Universitatis Comenianae, Vol. 50, 2003, pp. 139-146.
[27] G. Guginski, A. P. Luiz, M. D. Silva, M. Massaro, D. F. Martins, J. Chaves, R. W. Mattos, D. Silveira, V. M. M. Ferreira, J. B. Calixto and A. R. S Santos, “Mechanisms Involved in the Antinociception Caused by Ethanolic Extract Obtained from the Leaves of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) in Mice,” Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, Vol. 93, No. 1, 2009, pp. 10-16. doi:10.1016/j.pbb.2009.03.014
[28] J. Rhodes and P. Collins, “Lessons for Inflammatory Bowel Disease from Rheumatology,” Digestive and Liver Disease, Vol. 38, No. 3, 2006, pp. 157-162. doi:10.1016/j.dld.2005.09.020
[29] H. Lu, W. Ouyang and C. Huang, “Inflammation, a Key Event in Cancer Development,” Molecular Cancer Research, Vol. 4, No. 4, 2006, pp. 221-233. doi:10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-05-0261
[30] R. Patel, M. G. Attur, M. Dave, S. B. Abramson and A. R. Amin, “Regulation of Cytosoic COX-2 and Prostaglandin E2 Production by Nitric Oxide in Activated Murine Macrophages,” Journal of Immunology, Vol. 162, No. 7, 1999, pp. 4191-4197.
[31] Y. Chen, T. Fu, T. Tao, J. Yang, Y. Chang, M. Wang, L. Kim, L. Qu, J. Cassady, R. Scalzo and X. Wang, “Macrophage Activating Effects New Alkamides from the Roots of Echinacea Species,” Journal of Natural Products, Vol. 68, No. 5, 2005, pp. 773-776. doi:10.1021/np040245f
[32] L. Schmitt, Y. Liu, P. Murphy and D. Birt, “Evaluation of the Light-Sensitive Cytotoxicity of Hypericum perforatum Extracts, Fractions, and Pure Compounds,” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Vol. 54, No. 8, 2006, pp. 2881-2890. doi:10.1021/jf052344k
[33] C. W. Dunnett, “A Multiple Comparison Procedure for Comparing Several Treatments with a Control,” Journal of the American Statistical Association, Vol. 50, No. 272, 1955, pp. 1096-1121. doi:10.1080/01621459.1955.10501294
[34] M. Miroliaei, S. Khazaei, S. Moshkelgosha and M. Shirvani, “Inhibitory Effects of Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis L.) Extract on the Formation of Advanced Glycation End Products,” Food Chemistry, Vol. 129, No. 2, 2011, pp. 267-271. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.04.039
[35] H. Sun, F. Qin and Y. Pan, “In Vitro and in Vivo Immunosuppressive Activity of Spica Prunellae Ethanol Extract on the Immune Responses in Mice,” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Vol. 101, No. 1-3, 2005, pp. 31-36. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2005.03.023
[36] A. Zda?ilová, A. Svobodová, V. ?imánek and J. Ulrichová, “Prunella vulgaris Extract and Rosmarinic Acid Suppress Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Alteration in Human Gingival Fibroblasts,” Toxicology in Vitro, Vol. 23, No. 3, 2009, pp. 386-392. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2008.12.021
[37] F. Resende, C. Barcala, M. Faria, F. Kato, W. Cunha and D. Tavares, “Antimutagenicity of Ursolic Acid and Oleanolic Acid against Doxorubicin-Induced Clastogenesis in Balb/c Mice,” Life Sciences, Vol. 79, No. 13, 2006, pp. 1268-1273. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2006.03.038

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.