The Root from Heracleum moellendorffii Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Activity via the Inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Activation in LPS-Stimulated RAW264.7 Cells

The Root from Heracleum moellendorffii Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Activity via the Inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Activation in LPS-Stimulated RAW264.7 Cells

Honey used as conventional medicine has various pharmacological properties. In the honey and anti-inflammatory effect, Gelam honey and Manuka honey has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory activity. However, the anti-inflammatory effect and potential mechanisms of acacia honey (AH) are not well understood. In this study, we investigated anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of action of AH in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. AH attenuated NO production through inhibition of iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. AH also decreased the expressions of <TEX>$IL-1{\beta}$</TEX>, IL-6 and <TEX>$TNF-{\alpha}$</TEX> as pro-inflammatory cytokines, and MCP-1 expression as a pro-inflammatory chemokine. In the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms, AH decreased LPS-mediated <TEX>$I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$</TEX> degradation and subsequent nuclear accumulation of p65, which resulted in the inhibition of <TEX>$NF-{\kappa}B$</TEX> activation in RAW264.7 cells. AH dose-dependently suppressed LPS-mediated phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, AH significantly inhibited ATF2 phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of ATF2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that AH has an anti-inflammatory effect, inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as NO, iNOS, <TEX>$TNF-{\alpha}$</TEX>, IL-6, <TEX>$IL-1{\beta}$</TEX> and MCP-1 via interruption of the <TEX>$NF-{\kappa}B$</TEX> and MAPK/ATF2 signaling pathways.