본 연구를 통하여 청시닥나무의 에탄올 추출물은 쥐 대식세포인 Raw264.7 세포에 LPS로 유도된 염증반응에 미치는 효과가 있음을 확인하였다. 청시닥나무 목질부와 수피부에 에탄올을 가하여 추출한 뒤 그 추출물과 분획물의 NO 생성능 및 세포증식능을 실험한 결과 수피부의 EtOAc 분획이 세포증식능에 영향을 주지 않으면서 NO의 생성을 억제함을 확인하였다. 청시닥나무 수피부 에탄올 추출물 EtOAc 분획(EFEBA)은 Raw264.7 세포에서 LPS에 의해 생성된 NO의 분비와 iNOS의 단백질 및 mRNA의 발현을 농도 의존적으로 감소시켰고, 염증 반응 시 생성되는 IL-6, IL-$1{eta}$ 그리고 TNF-${alpha}$의 mRNA의 발현도 현저히 감소시켰다. 또한 $I{kappa}B{alpha}$의 degradation을 감소시키고 p65의 인산화를 감소시켜 NF-${kappa}B$ signaling을 통해 염증작용을 조절함을 확인하였다.
Acer barbinerve Maxim belongs to the Aceraceae tree family and is often consumed as an Oriental medicine. In this study, we investigated whether or not ethanol extract from the bark of A. barbinerve Max. (EBA) inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in Raw264.7 macrophages. EBA was fractionated using n-hexane, $CH_2Cl_2$, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and water. Raw264.7 cells were treated with 20 ${mu}g/mL$ of EBA and the EBA fractions. EBA inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production. Among the three fractions, EtOAc fraction of EBA (EFEBA) was the most effective in inhibiting LPS-induced NO production without significant cytotoxicity in Raw264.7 cells. EFEBA futher reduced LPS-induced expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) proteins and its corresponding mRNA. Additionally, EFEBA decreased the mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-$1{eta}$, and tumor necrosis factor-${alpha}$ in LPS-treated Raw264.7 cells. Lastly, EFEBA inhibited LPS-induced degradation of the inhibitor of kappaBalpha ($I{kappa}B{alpha}$) as well as phosphorylation of p65 nuclear factor-${kappa}B$ (NF-${kappa}B$). These results indicate that EFEBA exhibits strong anti-inflammatory effects and can be developed as a potential anti-inflammatory agent.
