Tuberc Respir Dis.  2014 Aug;77(2):65-72. 10.4046/trd.2014.77.2.65.

Effects of Morus alba L. and Natural Products Including Morusin on In Vivo Secretion and In Vitro Production of Airway MUC5AC Mucin

• Lee HJ
• Ryu J
• Park SH
• Woo ER
• Kim AR
• Lee SK
• Kim YS
• Kim JO
• Hong JH
• Lee CJ

• KMID: 2320541
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2014.77.2.65

Abstract

BACKGROUND
It is valuable to find the potential activity of regulating the excessive mucin secretion by the compounds derived from various medicinal plants. We investigated whether aqueous extract of the root bark of Morus alba L. (AMA), kuwanon E, kuwanon G, mulberrofuran G, and morusin significantly affect the secretion and production of airway mucin using in vivo and in vitro experimental models.
METHODS
Effect of AMA was examined on hypersecretion of airway mucin in sulfur dioxide-induced acute bronchitis in rats. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with ethanolic extract, kuwanon E, kuwanon G, mulberrofuran G, or morusin for 30 minutes and then stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 24 hours. The MUC5AC mucin secretion and production were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
RESULTS
AMA stimulated the secretion of airway mucin in sulfur dioxide-induced bronchitis rat model; aqueous extract, ethanolic extract, kuwanon E, kuwanon G, mulberrofuran G and morusin inhibited the production of MUC5AC mucin induced by PMA from NCI-H292 cells, respectively.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that extract of the root bark and the natural products derived from Morus alba L. can regulate the secretion and production of airway mucin and, at least in part, explains the folk use of extract of Morus alba L. as mucoregulators in diverse inflammatory pulmonary diseases.

Keyword

Mucins; Biological Products

MeSH Terms

Animals
Biological Products*
Bronchitis
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Ethanol
Lung Diseases
Models, Animal
Models, Theoretical
Morus*
Mucins*
Plants, Medicinal
Rats
Sulfur
Biological Products
Ethanol
Mucins
Sulfur

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Chemical structure of natural products derived from the root bark of Morus alba L. including kuwanon E (A), kuwanon G (B), mulberrofuran G (C), and morusin (D).

• 

  Figure 2 Effect of aqueous extract of the root bark of Morus alba L. (AMA) on secretion of in vivo airway mucin from rats exposed to sulfur dioxide. Rats were exposed to sulfur dioxide and effect of orally-administered AMA on secretion of in vivo airway mucin was investigated. Three independent experiments were performed and the representative data were shown. Each bar represents a mean±SEM from 5 rats. Concentration unit is mg/kg body weight. *Significantly different from control (p<0.05). †Significantly different from SO2 alone (p<0.05). Dexa: dexamethasone; SO2: sulfur dioxide.

• 

  Figure 3 Effect of aqueous extract of the root bark of Morus alba L. (AMA) on epithelial mucosubstances in trachea of rats exposed to sulfur dioxide. Rats were exposed to sulfur dioxide and effect of orally-administered AMA on epithelial mucosubstances (acidic mucins) in trachea was investigated as described in Materials and Methods (×200; hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff-Alcian Blue staining; blue, mucins).

• 

  Figure 4 Effects of aqueous extract and 70% ethanolic extract of Morus alba L. on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced MUC5AC production from NCI-H292 cells. NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with varying concentrations of aqueous extract (AE) (A) and 70% ethanolic extract (EE) (B) of Morus alba L. for 30 minutes and then stimulated with PMA (10 ng/mL) for 24 hours. Cell lysates were collected for measurement of MUC5AC mucin production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Three independent experiments were performed and the representative data were shown. Each bar represents a mean±SEM of 3 culture wells in comparison with that of control set at 100%. Concentration unit is µM. *Significantly different from control (p<0.05). †Significantly different from PMA alone (p<0.05).

• 

  Figure 5 Effects of kuwanon E (A), kuwanon G (B), mulberrofuran G (C), and morusin (D) on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced MUC5AC production from NCI-H292 cells. NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with varying concentrations of each compound for 30 minutes and then stimulated with PMA (10 ng/mL) for 24 hours, respectively. Cell lysates were collected for measurement of MUC5AC mucin production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Three independent experiments were performed and the representative data were shown. Each bar represents a mean±SEM of 3 culture wells in comparison with that of control set at 100%. Concentration unit is µM. *Significantly different from control (p<0.05). †Significantly different from PMA alone (p<0.05).

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