Aqueous Extracts of Ocimum Grasstimum Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-lnduced Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-8 Expression in Airway Epithelial Cell BEAS-2B

Objective： To investigate the antiinflammatory activities of aqueous extract of Occimum gratissmium （OGE） with emphasis on expression of proinflammatory cytokines in Lipopolysaccharide （LPS）-stimulated epithelial cell BEAS-2B. Methods： Effects of OGE on cell viability were determined by MTT assay, mRNA expression were analyzed by and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR） and quantitative real-time PCR. Activation of kinase cascades was investigated by immunoblot. Intracellular reactive oxygen species （ROS） was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results： OGE （〈200 μg/mL） treatment or pretreatment and following LPS exposure slightly affected viability of BEAS-2B cells. Increase of interleukin （IL）-6 and IL-8 and the elevated level of intracellular ROS in LPS-stimulated BEAS-2B cells were diminished by OGE pretreatment in a dose-dependent manner. OGE suppressed inflammatory response-associated mitogen-activated protein kinases （MAPKs） and Akt activation. Additionally, OGE pretreatment increased level of cellular inhibitor of K B α （I K B α ） and inhibited nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B （NF- K B）. Conclusion： These findings indicate that significant suppression of IL-6 and IL-8 expressions in LPS-stimulated BEAS-2B cells by OGE may be attributed to inhibiting activation of MAPKs and Akt and consequently suppressing nuclear translocation of NF- K B.