Suppressive effects of extracts from the aerial part of Coriandrum sativum L. on LPS-induced inflammatory responses in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages.

BACKGROUND

Coriandrum sativum is used not only as a spice to aid flavour and taste values in food, but also as a folk medicine in many countries. Since little is known about the anti-inflammatory ability of the aerial parts (stem and leaf) of C. sativum, the present study investigated the effect of aerial parts of C. sativum on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. We further explored the molecular mechanism underlying these pharmacological properties of C. sativum.

RESULTS

Ethanolic extracts from both stem and leaf of C. sativum (CSEE) significantly decreased LPS-induced nitric oxide and prostaglandin E(2) production as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and pro-interleukin-1beta expression. Moreover, LPS-induced IkappaB-alpha phosphorylation and nuclear p65 protein expression as well as nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) nuclear protein-DNA binding affinity and reporter gene activity were dramatically inhibited by aerial parts of CSEE. Exogenous addition of CSEE stem and leaf significantly reduced LPS-induced expression of phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrated that aerial parts of CSEE have a strong anti-inflammatory property which inhibits pro-inflammatory mediator expression by suppressing NF-kappaB activation and MAPK signal transduction pathway in LPS-induced macrophages.