Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Is a Direct Target of the Anti-Inflammatory Compound Amentoflavone Derived from Torreya nucifera

• Main Authors: Jueun Oh (Author), Ho Sik Rho (Author), Yanyan Yang (Author), Ju Young Yoon (Author), Jongsung Lee (Author), Yong Deog Hong (Author), Hyeon Chung Kim (Author), Sun Shim Choi (Author), Tae Woong Kim (Author), Song Seok Shin (Author), Jae Youl Cho (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Hindawi Limited, 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Amentoflavone is a biflavonoid compound with antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and UV-blocking activities that can be isolated from Torreya nucifera, Biophytum sensitivum, and Selaginella tamariscina. In this study, the molecular mechanism underlying amentoflavone's anti-inflammatory activity was investigated. Amentoflavone dose dependently suppressed the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in RAW264.7 cells stimulated with the TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS; derived from Gram-negative bacteria). Amentoflavone suppressed the nuclear translocation of c-Fos, a subunit of activator protein (AP)-1, at 60 min after LPS stimulation and inhibited the activity of purified and immunoprecipitated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which mediates c-Fos translocation. In agreement with these results, amentoflavone also suppressed the formation of a molecular complex including ERK and c-Fos. Therefore, our data strongly suggest that amentoflavone's immunopharmacological activities are due to its direct effect on ERK.

Item Description

0962-9351
1466-1861
10.1155/2013/761506