Inhibition of cytokine-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression; possible mechanism for anti-atherogenic effect of Agastache rugosa

Abstract

Adhesion molecules such as vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) play an important role during the early stages of atherogenesis. Agastache rugosa has an anti-atherogenic effect in low density lipoprotein receptor -/- mice. Moreover, A. rugosa reduced macrophage infiltration and VCAM-1 expression has been localized in aortic endothelium that overlies early foam cell lesions. This study ascertained that tilianin (100 μM), a major component of A. rugosa, inhibits the tumor necrotic factor-α (TNF-α)-induced expression of VCAM-1 by 74% in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Also, tilianin (100 μM) reduced TNF-α-induced activation of nuclear factor-κB in HUVECs.