Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum extract inhibits the production of nitric oxide and PGE2 through inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) in RAW 264. 7 cells

In this study, the anti-inflammatory effects of Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum were evaluated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. C. latilobum ethanolic extracts were fractionated sequentially with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol. C. latilobum extracts significantly decreased LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in a concentration-dependent manner. In particular, n-hexane soluble fractionates from 95% ethanol of C. latilobum (CLNH, at a concentration of over 20 μg/mL, P < 0.001) strongly inhibited NO and PGE2 synthesis. Consistent with these findings, CLNH reduced the LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression. iNOS and COX-2 mRNA expression in LPS-treated RAW cells was tested by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). These results suggest that C. latilobum may have a strong inhibitory effect against iNOS and COX-2 gene expression and may be useful for reducing the production of inflammatory mediators in chronic diseases and oxidative stress.