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ABSTRACT: Whole plant methanolic extracts of 14 traditionally used medicinal herbs were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity. Extracts of Grindelia robusta, Salix nigra, Arnica montana, and Quassia amara showed up to 4.5-fold inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in the J774 murine macrophage cells challenged with LPS without cytotoxicity. These four selected extracts significantly reduced the protein levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as observed by Western blot analysis. Culture supernatants from cells treated with these extracts indicated 3-5-fold reduction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). However, only G. robusta and Q. amara extracts significantly inhibited (by 50%) IL-1beta and IL-12 secretions. Furthermore, all these plant extracts were shown to prevent the LPS-mediated nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). All the above observations indicate the anti-inflammatory potential of these plant extracts.
Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 10/2009; 336(1-2):127-35. · 2.06 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Sepsis and/or systemic inflammatory response syndrome are leading causes of death in intensive care unit patients. NO is a critical player in the pathogenesis of bacterial sepsis. Several studies demonstrate elevation of iNOS in LPS-induced acute inflammatory responses and mortality; however, the effectiveness of its therapeutic suppression in systemic inflammation is largely controversial. Earlier, we have reported that DNAzymes specific to iNOS mRNA efficiently suppress iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated J774 murine macrophages. In the present study, we explored the effects of two of these DNAzymes in BALB/c mice model of LPS-induced lethal systemic inflammation. Experimental animal groups receiving previous injections of iNOS-specific DNAzyme (100 microg, i.p.) showed significantly reduced mortality. Total cell counts of peritoneal lavage and histopathological studies of tissues demonstrated substantial reduction in the leukocytic infiltration and edema in DNAzyme-treated mice. In addition, DNAzyme-injected animals displayed significantly decreased IL-12 serum level, whereas the levels of IL-1[beta], IFN-[gamma], and TNF-[alpha] also declined to a great extent. DNAzyme treatment resulted in significantly reduced NO levels in serum and peritoneal lavage, confirming functional suppression of iNOS gene in LPS-injected mice. These DNAzymes were also able to limit excessive NO production by cytokine and LPS co-challenges in cultured peritoneal macrophages from DNAzyme-treated mice. Estimation of iNOS mRNA and protein expression in the peritoneal macrophages of DNAzyme-administered animals further confirmed the iNOS gene knockdown. All these results indicated that iNOS-specific DNAzymes reduce inflammatory responses and enhance survival in murine model of LPS-induced lethal systemic inflammation.
Shock (Augusta, Ga.) 10/2009; 33(5):493-9. · 2.87 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A glucose specific lectin (STA) was isolated from Sesbania aculeata stem by using Sephadex G-50 affinity column chromatography. The lectin is a glycoprotein having 29 kDa subunit molecular weight. Two dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that the lectin existed in two isomeric forms with varied carbohydrate content as analyzed by high performance anion exchange chromatography-pulsed amperometric detector (HPAEC-PAD). Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) and N-terminal sequence (LDSLSFTYNNFE) analysis of this lectin showed 95% homology with stem lectin SL-I (accession no. AJ585523) from peanut plant. The nucleotide sequence of the lectin (STA) was submitted to the gene bank (accession no. EU263636).
The Protein Journal 10/2009; 28(9-10):391-9. · 1.04 Impact Factor
