Fruits extracts of Hovenia dulcis Thunb.suppresses lipopolysaccharide—stimulated inflammatory responses through nuclear factor—kappaB pathway in Raw 264.7 cells

Objective:To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and the action mechanism of the fruits of Horenia dulcis（H.dulcis） in lipopolysaccharide（LPS）-induced mouse macrophage Raw 264.7cells.Methods:The extract of H.dulcis fruits（EHDF） were extracted with 70%ethanol.Mouse macrophages were treated with different concentrations of EHDF in the presence and absence of LPS（1 μg/mL）.To demonstrate the inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide,inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase（COX）-2 expression levels were analyzed by usingin vitro assay systems.COX-derived pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1 β.tumor necrosis factor- α and prostaglandin F2 were determined using ELISA kits.Cell viability,heme oxygenase-1 expression,nuclear factor-kappaB and nuclear factor F.2-related factors 2 translocation were also investigated.Results:EHDF potently inhibited the LPS-stimulated nitric oxide,inducible nitric oxide synthase.COX-2,interleukin-1 β and tumor necrosis factor- α expression in a dose-dependent manner.EHDF suppressed the phosphorylation of inhibited kappaB-alpha and p65 nuclear translocation.Treatment of macrophage cells with EHDF alone induced the heme oxygenase-1 and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-reIated factor 2.Conclusions:These results suggest that the ethanol extract of H.dulcis fruit exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting inhibited kappaBalpha phorylation and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB.