Roburic Acid Suppresses NO and IL-6 Production via Targeting NF-κB and MAPK Pathway in RAW264.7 Cells

In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of roburic acid on production of nitric oxide (NO) and interlukin-6 (IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. We found that roburic acid reduced production of NO and IL-6, and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthases (iNOS). Meanwhile, phosphorylation of inhibitor of κBα (IκBα) and IκB kinase α/β (IKKα/β), as well as translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) to the nucleus, was suppressed by roburic acid treatment. In addition, phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) including p38 and c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) was inhibited. Roburic acid exhibited inhibitory activities on production of NO and IL-6 via blocking IKK/IκB/NF-κB and MAPKs pathway, suggesting the potential application as a drug candidate for therapy of inflammatory diseases.