A Sesquiterpene, Dehydrocostus Lactone, Inhibits the Expression of inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and TNF$\alpha$ in LPS- Activated Macrophages

An enhanced formation of nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator of hypotention, peripheral vasodilation and vascular hyporeactivity to vasoconstrictor agents in endotoxaemia. And tumor necrosis factor (TNF${\alpha}$), as a primary mediator of circulatory shock has been known to induce inducible nitric oxide synthase (i-NOS), leading to excessive production of NO. We isolated two sesquiterpene lactone compounds from Saussurea lappa and their structures were elucidated as dehydrocostus lactone and costunolide. These compounds inhibit the production of both NO and TNF${\alpha}$ by LPS (1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$)-activated Raw 264.7 cells. NO was measured spectropho-tometrically as nitrite by the Griess reagent and TNF${\alpha}$ by ELISA. Dehydrocostus lactone (IC$\sub$50/ : 3.0 ${\mu}$M) and costunolide (IC$\sub$50/ : 4.5 ${\mu}$M) inhibited the production of NO in LPS-activated Raw 264.7 cells by suppressing inducible nitric oxide synthase enzyme expression. These compounds also decreased the TNF${\alpha}$ levels in LPS-activated system in vitro and in vivo.