Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2012 Mar;32(1):43-50.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Houttuynia Cordata Thunb in Activated Raw 264.7 Cells Activated with Lipopolysaccharide and Interferon Gamma

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Houttuynia cordata has long been used in traditional oriental medicine for the treatment of inflammatory disease. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of Houttuynia cordata extracts on Raw 264.7 cells, which is activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma).
METHODS
We treated LPS-and IFN-gamma-activated murine macrophage Raw 264.7 cells with extracts of Houttuynia cordata and measured the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (Interleukin [IL]-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted) in activated Raw 264.7 cells after treatment with Houttuynia cordata extracts.
RESULTS
NO formation by activated Raw 264.7 cells was reduced in response to Houttuynia Cordata in a dose-dependent manner. Formation of PGE2, a final product of the COX pathway was reduced by Houttuynia cordata extracts and reduction in COX-2 expression was proportional to the reduction in PGE2. The expression of proteins, iNOS and COX-2 decreased with increasing concentration of Houttuynia cordata extracts. The related pro-inflammatory cytokines did not decrease in the cells treated with Houttuynia cordata extracts.
CONCLUSION
Houttuynia Cordata extracts suppressed the production of NO and PGE2 and decreased the expression of iNOS and COX-2. It has potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Further studies are needed to elucidate the effects of Houttuynia Cordata extracts on the production of inflammatory cytokines.

MeSH Terms

Cyclooxygenase 2
Cytokines
Dinoprostone
Houttuynia
Interferon-gamma
Interferons
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-12
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-6
Macrophages
Medicine, East Asian Traditional
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
Proteins
T-Lymphocytes
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Cyclooxygenase 2
Cytokines
Dinoprostone
Interferon-gamma
Interferons
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-12
Interleukin-4
Interleukin-6
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
Proteins
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha