Inhibition of Inducible
Nitric Oxide Synthase, Cycleooxygenase-2 and Lipid
Peroxidation by Methanol Extract of Pericarpium
Zanthoxyli
Jin-Won
Chung, Jin Uk
Oh, Sehyung Lee and Sung-Jin Kim*
Department of Pharmacology
and Toxicology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee
University, Seoul 130-701, Republic of Korea.
*For correspondence:
Email:
kimsj@khu.ac.kr
Tel: +82-2-961-0868; Fax: +82-2-957-5309
Received: 9 April 2013
Revised accepted: 30 April 2013
Tropical Journal of
Pharmaceutical Research, June 2013;
12(3):
369-375
http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v12i3.15
Abstract
Purpose:
To explore the antioxidant
properties of the methanol extract of Pericarpium
Zanthoxyli and its effect on inducible nitric oxide
synthase (iNOS), cycleooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and
lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced cell damage in
macrophage cells.
Methods:
Anti-oxidant activities
were tested by measuring free radical scavenging
activity (DPPH, NO) and lipid peroxidation levels. The
mechanism of anti-oxidant action of Pericarpium
Zanthoxyli extract was determined by Western blot
analysis for iNOS and COX-2 expression in LPS-stimulated
RAW 264.7 cells.
Results:
Pericarpium Zanthoxyli
extract contained anti-oxidant components including
phenolics (2.456 mg/g), flavonoids (0.127 mg/g) and
anthocyanins (20.34 mg/g). The extract exerted
significant radical scavenging activity in a
dose-dependent manner. It also inhibited lipid
peroxidation and exerted dramatic reducing power
(28.9-fold compared with control at a concentration of 1
mg/ml). Production of iNOS induced by LPS was
significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited by the extract,
suggesting that the extract inhibits nitric oxide (NO)
production by suppressing iNOS expression. Strikingly,
COX-2 induced by LPS was also significantly (p < 0.05)
inhibited by the extract.
Conclusion:
These results suggest that
the methanol extract of Pericarpium Zanthoxyli exerts
significant anti-oxidant activity via inhibiting free
radicals, iNOS and lipid peroxidation as well as by
inhibition of COX-2 enzyme.
Keywords:
Pericarpium Zanthoxyli, Nitric oxide, iNOS, COX-2, Lipid
peroxidation, Antioxidant
