Paeoniflorigenone 작약성분의 항염효과

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Paeoniflorigenone Isolated from Paeoniae Radix

In Northeast Asia, Paeoniae Radix has been used in treatments of inflammation-causing diseases such as arthritis for many centuries. Paeoniflorin, one of the principle bioactive monoterpene glucosides from the paeony root, is reported to be mostly responsible for the effectiveness of the treatments. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of a monoterpene, paeoniflorigenone (PFG) which partially has the moiety of paeoniflorin minus a glucose structure is unknown. Thus, the aim of this work was to investigate anti-inflammatory activity of PFG. For the investigation, PFG activity on the NO (nitric oxide) production from LPS-stimulated macrophages, and the anti-inflammatory effect was tested in the animal model of septic arthritis caused by Candida albicans, a major etiological agent for septic arthritis. For induction of the arthritis, mice were administered with an emulsion of C. albicans cell wall (CACW) mixed with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) via footpad-injection (Day 0); PFG at a dose of 0.5 or 1 mg/mouse (25 or 50 mg/kg of body-weight) was given to the animals on Day 3, 6, and 9; footpads were scored for arthritis. Moreover, the PFG effect on proliferation of T-lymphocyte that causes aggravation of arthritis was additionally tested. Data resulting from those tests showed that PFG inhibited the NO production from the stimulated macrophage in a dose dependent manner (P<0.05), indicating that PFG is an anti-inflammatory. To confirm the in-vitro results, anti-inflammatory activity of PFG was determined against C. albicans-caused septic arthritis. Data showed that PFG-treatment reduced footpad-swelling which indicates that PFG has anti-arthritic effect (P<0.05), which is therapeutic. The anti-arthritic effect appeared to be mediated by PFG suppression of T-cell proliferation. Ultimately, PFG, a monoterpene component, has anti-inflammatory activity analogous to paeoniflorin. The anti-inflammatory activity treats the septic arthritis due to a pathogenic fungus C. albicans.