Anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic extract isolated from immature fruit of Thus succedanea

Abstract

In this study, we report the anti-inflammatory activity of methanolic extract isolated from immature fruit of Rhus succedanea (RS). RS dose-dependently inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and nitric oxide in RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage-like cell line. The mRNA expressions of IL-1β and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were also suppressed by RS in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Transient transfection and reporter gene assay demonstrated that LPS-induced NF-κB activity was significantly inhibited by RS in RAW 264.7 cells. Further study demonstrated that topical application of RS suppressed ear swelling in TPA-induced skin inflammation model. Moreover, RS also increased survival rate and time in animal model of sepsis. Collectively, these results suggest that RS exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in vitro and in vivo and this might be mediated, at least in part, by blocking NF-κB activation.