The effect of methanol extract from Saussurea involucrata in the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated inflammation in cultured RAW 264.7 cells

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance: S aussureae I nvolucratae H erba (SIH), known as “snow lotus” in Uyghur and/or Chinese medicines, is generated from the dried aerial part of Saussurea involucrata (Kar. et Kir.) Sch.-Bip. (Asteraceae). The major pharmaceutical value of SIH has been recorded in China Pharmacopoeia, i.e. to balance the immune system, and thus SIH is commonly used for rheumatoid arthritis treatment. Nevertheless, the detailed mechanism of SIH in immune function is still unresolved. Aim of the study Here, we employed macrophage RAW 264.7 cell as a model to demonstrate the signaling pathways, triggered by SIH, in regulating the LPS-induced inflammation. Methods The application of SIH methanolic extract suppressed the expression of cytokines, a hallmark of chronic inflammation, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cultures. Results The anti-inflammatory functions of SIH were shown to be triggered via NF-κB/PI3K/MAPK signaling pathways by revealing the specific biomarkers, i.e. translocation activities of NF-κB and phosphorylations of Erk1/2, JNK and Akt. Conclusion The aforementioned results showed the underlying action mechanism of SIH in chronic inflammation mitigation, and which might shed light on clinical applications of SIH in traditional Chinese and/or Uyghur medicines.