Inhibitory Effect of Farfarae Flos Water Extract on COX-2, iNOS Expression and Nitric Oxide Production in lipopolysaccharide - activated RAW 264.7 cells

Farfrae Flos has been clinically used for the treatment of asthma in traditional oriental medicine. There is lack of studies regarding the effects of Farfrae Flos on the immunological activities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Farfrae Flos on the regulatory mechanism of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264.7 cells. In Raw 264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic inflammation, Farfrae Flos water extract inhibited nitric oxide production in a dose-dependent manner and abrogated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2). Farfrae Flos water extract did not affect on cell viability. To investigate the mechanism by which Farfrae Flos water extract inhibits iNOS and COX-2 gene expression, we examined the on the phospholylation of inhibitor κBα and production of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Results provided evidence that Farfrae Flos inhibited the production of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and the activation of phospholylation of inhibitor κBα in Raw 264.7 cells activated with LPS. These findings suggest that Farfrae Flos can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may play a role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.