Inhibitory effects of extracts from Smilacina japonica on lipopolysaccharide induced nitric oxide and prostaglandin E 2 production in RAW264.7 macrophages

Smilacina japonica is a localized common rhizomatous flowering plant, This plant is often used in Korean traditional systems of medicine as a remedy for migrain, diplegia, physical impurity, blood circulation, abscess and contusion. Generally drugs that are used for arthritis have antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties. However, validity of the anti-inflammatory activity has not been scientifically investigated so far. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of S. japonica using the ethanolic extract and its sub- fractions. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects, we examined the inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on RAW 264.7 macrophages. Our results indicated that hexane fraction significantly inhibited the LPS induced NO and PGE2 production in the cells. The hexane fractions inhibitory activity for NO tests with IC50 values showed in 53.3 μg/ml and PGE2 tests with IC50 values showed at 32.5 μg/ml. Theseis result suggest a potential role of hexane fraction from S. japonica as source of anti-inflammatory agent.