Bisabolangelone isolated from Ostericum koreanum inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators by down-regulation of NF-kappaB and ERK MAP kinase activity in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.

Bisabolangelone, a sesquiterpene derivative, was isolated from the roots of Osterici Radix (Ostericum koreanum Maximowicz). In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of bisabolangelone was investigated to address potential therapeutic effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Bisabolangelone significantly inhibited NO, PGE(2), and pro-inflammatory cytokines by suppressing the mRNA and protein expressions of iNOS and COX-2. Bisabolangelone also inhibited the productions of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6) by suppressing the cytokine mRNA and protein expressions. The molecular mechanism of bisabolangelone-mediated attenuation in RAW 264.7 cells has a close relationship to suppressing the translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) p65 subunit into the nucleus and the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). These results indicate that bisabolangelone inhibits LPS-stimulated inflammation through the blocking of NF-kappaB and MAPK pathways in macrophages, and demonstrated that bisabolangelone possesses anti-inflammatory properties.