Anti-inflammatory Effect of Fructus Chaenomelis(FC)

목과(木瓜)의 항염(抗炎) 및 면역반응(免疫反應)에 대한 실험적(實驗的) 연구(硏究)

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate anti-inflammatory effect and immune responses of aqueous extract from Fructus Chaenomelis (FC). Methods: We studied anti-inflammatory effect by means of examining the production of NO(nitric oxide) and expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-$\alpha$(tumor necrosis factor-alpha), IL(Interleukin)-6, IL-12) in the LPS-induced peritoneal macrophages of mice. Also, The western blot analysis has been done to look into the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effect. Results: 1. The FC extract did not have any cytotoxicity in the peritoneal macrophages. 2. The FC extract inhibits the productions of NO, IL-6. IL-12 in the LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages of mice, but not of TNF-$\alpha$. 3. The FC extract inhibits the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$(nuclear factor-kappa B) by keeping $I{\kappa}B-\alpha$(inhibitory kappa B-alpha) from degradating, but not of MAPKs(mitogen-activated protein kinases) such as ERK(extracelluar signa 1-regulated kinase), JNK(c-Jun N-terminal kinase), p38. Conclusion: These results show that FC extract inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6. IL-12. NO by inhibiting NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in the peritoneal macrophages of mice. In conclusion, this experiment suggests that FC extract may be effective for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammation including genitourinary infection.