6-Acetonyl-5,6-dihydrosanguinarine (ADS) from Chelidonium majus L. triggers proinflammatory cytokine production via ROS-JNK/ERK-NFκB signaling pathway

Food Chem Toxicol. 2013 Aug:58:273-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2013.04.051. Epub 2013 May 6.

Abstract

Chelidonium majus L. is an herbal plant that is commonly used in Western phytotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine for diuretic, antitussive, eye-regenerative, anti-osteoporotic, and radioprotective purposes. In this study, we purified 6-acetonyl-5,6-dihydrosanguinarine (ADS) from C. majus and investigated its immune-stimulatory effect. We found that ADS has the potential to induce the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), that NFκB activation is a critical mediator of ADS-induced cytokine production, and that the activation of NFκB was dependent on reactive oxygen species (ROS). ADS induced phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, which was also associated with NFκB activation; phosphorylarion and cytokine production were inhibited by ROS scavenger and by specific MAPK inhibitors. Taken together, the results suggest that ADS from C. majus, as a positive immune modulator, induces inflammatory cytokines that might improve immunity, via the ROS-ERK/JNK-NFκB pathway.

Keywords: 6-Acetonyl-5,6-dihydrosanguinarine; Chelidonium majus; Inflammatory cytokine; MAPK; NFκB; ROS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzodioxoles / pharmacology*
  • Benzophenanthridines / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Chelidonium / metabolism*
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis*
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism*
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System*
  • Mice
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*

Substances

  • 6-acetonyl-5,6-dihydrosanguinarine
  • Benzodioxoles
  • Benzophenanthridines
  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • NF-kappa B
  • Reactive Oxygen Species