Protective effect of polyacetylene from Dendropanax morbifera Leveille leaves on pulmonary inflammation induced by cigarette smoke and lipopolysaccharide

•Inhibition of pulmonary inflammation were observed on Dendropanax morbifera leaves.•The extract and a polyacetylene from CHCl3 layer inhibited IL-6 in NCI-H292 cells.•The polyacetylene reduced ROS, NE, and cytokines in the BALF of murine model.•The polyacetylene reduced mucus and activation of ERK, p-38 and NF-κB in the lung. As part of an ongoing search for active compounds against pulmonary inflammation, a polyacetylene was isolated from Dendropanax morbifera leaves. The polyacetylene (9Z, 16S)-16-Hydroxy-9,17-octadecadiene-12,14-diynoic acid) was isolated from the chloroform fraction of methanolic extract of D. morbifera leaves based on the IL-6 inhibitory activity evaluated in NCI-H292 cells. In the murine model of cigarette smoke (CS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced airway inflammation, the polyacetylene significantly attenuated the infiltration of inflammatory cells in BALF (broncoalveolar lavage fluid) and in the lung. In addition, this compound reduced ROS (reactive oxygen species) production and NE (neutrophil elastase) activity, and decreased the release of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) in BALF. Furthermore, the polyacetylene reduced mucus secretion and the activation of ERK, p-38 and NF-κB in the lung. These findings suggest that the polyacetylene might be valuable constituent of D. morbifera as a material for functional food alleviating pulmonary inflammation disease such as COPD.