Anti-inflammatory Activity of Medicinal Plant Extracts

The study was conducted to investigate candidate materials as anti-inflammation agent from plant resources. Activities of 33 plant parts extracts with the final concentration of 5μg/ml were evaluated on the several inflammationrelated markers such as the release of proinflammatoty cytokine [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) & interleukin-6 (IL6)], nitric oxide (NO), the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B alpha (Iκ-Bα) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. The extracts in the final concentration of 10μg/ml were also screened on peroxynitrite (ONOO−) scavenging activity. Eleven extracts selected from the screening assay were verified on the inhibition activity on peroxynitrite and total reactive species oxygen (ROS) in the several concentrations. As results, Alpinia officinarum Hance (rhizome), Inula britannica var. chinensis Regel (flower), Ulmus arvifolia Jacq (trunk peel) and Aster scaber Thunb. (aerial part) showed comparatively potent anti-inflammatory activities in vitro cells or chemical level systems, and then these four plant parts should be studied on the antiinflammatory mechanism by further studies.