Lenvatinib Compared with Sorafenib as a First-Line Treatment for Radioactive Iodine-Refractory, Progressive, Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Real-World Outcomes in a Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Sorafenib and lenvatinib have been widely adopted to treat radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). However, limited data exist regarding a direct comparison of these tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). We aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of two TKIs as first-line therapy in patients with distant metastatic or locally advanced, progressive, RAI-refractory DTC in real-world practice. Methods: In this multicenter, retrospective cohort study, we evaluated 136 patients with progressive distant metastatic or locally advanced, progressive, RAI-refractory DTC or poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) who received first-line sorafenib or lenvatinib treatment. The primary outcome was progression-free survival (PFS). We also evaluated the objective response rate, disease-control rate, clinical benefit rate, and safety. Results: The median age of the patients was 68 years, and 35% (47/136) were male. Eighty and fifty-six patients were included in the sorafenib and lenvatinib groups, respectively. The median PFS was 13.3 months [95% confidence interval, CI, 9.9-18.1 months] in the sorafenib group and 35.3 months [CI, 18.2 months to upper limit not reported as the median was not reached] in the lenvatinib group (p = 0.001). A significantly prolonged PFS was observed in the lenvatinib group (compared with the sorafenib group) after adjusting for age, sex, pathology, disease-related symptom, lung-only metastasis, cumulative RAI dose, time from diagnosis, treatment duration, and longest diameter of the target lesion (hazard ratio = 0.34, CI, 0.19-0.60, p < 0.001). The partial response rate was 24% and 59% in the sorafenib and lenvatinib groups, respectively (p < 0.001). More common grade 3-4 adverse events were hypertension (16%, 9/56 vs. 1%, 1/80, p = 0.002) and proteinuria (32%, 18/56 vs. 0%, p < 0.001) in the lenvatinib group, and hand-foot skin reaction (24%, 19/80 vs. 4%, 2/56, p = 0.001) in the sorafenib group. Conclusion: In our study of Asian patients, first-line lenvatinib treatment of metastatic or locally advanced, progressive, RAI-refractory DTC or PDTC was associated with a longer PFS compared with sorafenib. However, severe hypertension and proteinuria were observed more frequently after lenvatinib treatment than after sorafenib treatment.

Picrasma quassioides Extract Elevates the Cervical Cancer Cell Apoptosis Through ROS-Mitochondrial Axis Activated p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Picrasma quassioides (P. quassioides) is used in traditional Asian medicine widely for the treatment of anemopyretic cold, eczema, nausea, loss of appetite, diabetes mellitus, hypertension etc. In this study we aimed to understand the effect of P. quassioides ethanol extract on SiHa cervical cancer cell apoptosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The P. quassioides extract-induced apoptosis was analyzed using the MTT assay, fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and western blotting. RESULTS: P. quassioides extract induced cellular apoptosis by increasing the accumulation of cellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and inhibiting ATP synthesis. Pretreatment with N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), a classic antioxidant, decreased the intracellular ROS production and inhibited apoptosis. In addition, the P38 MAPK signaling pathway is a key in the apoptosis of SiHa cells induced by the P. quassioides extract. CONCLUSION: The P. quassioides extract exerts its anti-cancer properties on SiHa cells through ROS-mitochondria axis and P38 MAPK signaling. Our data provide a new insight for P. quassioides as a therapeutic strategy for cervical cancer treatment.

Anti-tumor Properties of Picrasma quassioides Extracts in H-RasG12V Liver Cancer Are Mediated Through ROS-dependent Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Picrasma quassioides (PQ) is a traditional Asian herbal medicine with anti-tumor properties that can inhibit the viability of HepG2 liver cancer cells. H-Ras is often mutated in liver cancer, however, the effect of PQ treatment on H-Ras mutated liver cancer is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of PQ on ROS accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction in H-ras mutated HepG2 (HepG2G12V) cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PQ ethanol extract-induced HepG2G12V apoptosis was analyzed by the MTT assay, fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and western blotting. RESULTS: PQ treatment affected cell migration and colony formation in HepG2G12V cells. Cleaved-caspase-3, cleaved-caspase-9 and BCL2 associated agonist of cell death (BAD) expression levels were increased, while the levels of B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) were decreased with PQ treatment. PQ treatment led to a reduction of H-Ras expression levels in liver cancer cells, thus reducing their abnormal proliferation. Furthermore, it led to increased expression levels of Peroxiredoxin VI, which regulates the redox signal in cells. CONCLUSION: Taken together these results provide a new functional significance for the role of PQ in treating HepG2G12V liver cancer.

Britanin attenuates ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation in a murine asthma model.

We previously demonstrated the alleviation of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway inflammation by Inulae flos. In the present study, the effects of britanin, a sesquiterpene compound isolated from Inulae flos, were evaluated in an in vivo animal model for anti-asthma activity through observation of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), eosinophil recruitment, Th2 cytokine and IgE levels, and lung histopathology. Britanin administration effectively reduced AHR induced by aerosolized methacholine, airway eosinophilia, Th2 cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and the supernatant of cultured splenocytes compared with OVA-induced mice. Histological studies showed that increased inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus secretion were reduced by britanin administration. Thus, britanin may have therapeutic potential for treating allergic asthma.

Inhibitory Effects of JEUD-38, a New Sesquiterpene Lactone from Inula japonica Thunb, on LPS-Induced iNOS Expression in RAW264.7 Cells.

We isolated JEUD-38, a new sesquiterpene lactone from Inula japonica Thunb. JEUD-38 dramatically attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production. Consistent with this finding, the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was blocked by JEUD-38 in a concentration-dependent manner. To elucidate the mechanism, we examined the effect of JEUD-38 on LPS-stimulated nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) nuclear translocation, inhibitory factor-κB (IκB) phosphorylation, and degradation. JEUD-38 reduced the translocation of p65, via abrogating IκB-α phosphorylation and degradation. In addition, JEUD-38 inhibited LPS-stimulated phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38. Since iNOS as well as the upstream NF-κB and MAPKs are known to be closely involved in inflammation, these results suggest that JEUD-38 is a promising candidate for prevention and therapy of inflammatory diseases.

[Anti-inflammatory constituents from Inula japonica].

Chemical constituents of Inula japonica were isolated and purified by repeated column chromatographies, over silica gel, and Toyopearl HW-40, and preparative HPLC. On the basis of spectral data analysis, including NMR and MS data, the structures of the isolates were elucidated and their anti-inflammatory activities were assayed. Fifteen compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of I. japonica, and their structures were elucidated as dihydrosyringenin (1), (3S, 5R, 6S, 7E)-5,6-epoxy-3-hydroxy-7-megastigmen-9-one (2), (6R, 7E) -9-hydroxy-4,7-megastigmadien-3-one (3), arnidiol (4), taraxasterol acetate (5), 8,9,10-trihydroxythymol (6), taxifolin (7), luteolin (8), napetin (9), eupatin (10), spinacetin (11), quercetin (12), p-hydroxycinnamic acid (13), caffeic acid (14), and caffeoyl acetate (15). Compounds 1, 2, 7, 13 and 15 were isolated from the genus Inula for the first time, and compounds 3, 4, 9-11 and 14 were isolated from this plant for the first time. The anti-inflammatory activity result showed that compounds 3, 6-12 and 14 exhibited inhibition effect against leukotriene C4 (LTC4) synthesis and degranulation definitely in c-Kit Ligand (KL) induced mast cells, and compound 8 and 12 also had the suppression effect against lipopolysacharide(LPS) induced nitric oxide (NO) activity in RAW264.7 macrophages. It is firstly reported that compounds 7 and 9-11 possessed potent inhibition activities against LTC4 generation and degranulation in mast cells.

Anti-inflammatory terpenes from flowers of Inula japonica.

Five new terpenes (1-5) and ten known compounds (6-15) were isolated from Inula japonica, and their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 3 and 14 showed positive inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production. Furthermore, compound 14 suppressed both leukotriene C4 synthesis and degranulation in c-kit ligand-induced bone marrow-derived mast cells.

In vivo study of effects of artesunate nanoliposomes on human hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts in nude mice.

To investigate the effect of artesunate nanoliposomes on cultured cells in vitro and hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts in BALB/c-nu mice. Fluorescence polarization was applied for measurement of mitochondrial membrane fluidities; inhibition test of tumor cell proliferation in vitro was performed and nude mice xenograft model from human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was established. Cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated by MTT assay on hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts in nude mice. Anisotropy (r-value) of blank nanoliposomes didn't change, it had no statistically significance between the blank nanoliposomes group and the control group, it indicated that artesunate had no obvious effect on L-O2 human normal liver cells. IC50 values of artesunate nanoliposomes and artesunate API (active pharmaceutical ingredient) against HepG-2 cells were 15.997 and 19.706 µg/ml; IC50 values of the same drugs against L-O2 normal human liver cells were 100.23 and 105.54 µg/ml, respectively. Tumor growth inhibitory effect of artesunate nanoliposomes was 32.7%, and artesunate API was 20.5%, respectively. HepG-2 cells treated with artesunate nanoliposomes showed dose-dependent apoptosis. The antitumor effect of artesunate nanoliposomes on human hepatoma HepG2 cells were stronger than that of artesunate API at the same concentration.

[Intervention effect of aqueous fractions from Boschniakia rossica on hepatic oxidative stress in mice with liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the intervention effect of aqueous fractions from Boschniakia rossica (BRAF) on hepatic oxidative stress in mice with liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). METHOD: The experimental mice were randomly assigned into the normal control group, the model group, the silymarin (positive control) group, as well as high and low dose BRAF groups. Mice were treated intragastrically with silymarin or BRAF once every day for 7 days. At the end of the experiment, CCl4 was injected intraperitoneally into the mice to establish the acute liver injury model. The pathological changes was detected with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), superoxide dismutase (SOD) , catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Na+ -K+ -ATPase, Ca2+ -Mg2+ -ATPase, and the contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by the colorimetric method. RESULT: BRAF significantly reduced ALT, AST and ALP activities in serum, alleviated hepatic injury induced by CCl4, increased SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH levels in liver, and SOD, Na + -K + -ATPase and Ca2+ -Mg2 + -ATPase activities in liver mitochondria, and decreased the MDA content in liver and liver mitochondria. CONCLUSION: BRAF reduces hepatic oxidative stress in mice with acute liver injury induced by CCl4, thereby showing the protective effect on mice with acute liver injury induced by CCl4.

Inula japonica extract inhibits mast cell-mediated allergic reaction and mast cell activation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The flowers of Inula japonica (Inulae Flos) have long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of bronchitis, digestive disorders, and inflammation. However, the mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory effects remain yet to be elucidated. The objectives of this study were 1) to assess the anti-allergic activity of the ethanol extract of flowers of Inula japonica extract (IFE) in vivo, 2) to investigate the mechanism of its action on mast cells in vitro, and 3) to identify its major phytochemical compositions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-allergic activity of IFE was evaluated using mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) in vitro and a passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) animal model in vivo. The effects of IFE on mast cell activation were evaluated in terms of degranulation, eicosanoid generation, Ca(2+) influx, and immunoblotting of various signaling molecules. RESULTS: IFE inhibited degranulation and the generation of eicosanoids (PGD(2) and LTC(4)) in stem cell factor (SCF)-stimulated BMMCs. Biochemical analysis of the SCF-mediated signaling pathways demonstrated that IFE inhibited the activation of multiple downstream signaling processes including mobilization of intracellular Ca(2+) and phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), PLCγ1, and cPLA(2) pathways. When administered orally, IFE attenuated the mast cell-mediated PCA reaction in IgE-sensitized mice. Its major phytochemical composition included three sesquiterpenes, 1-O-acetylbritannilactone, britanin and tomentosin. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that IFE modulates eicosanoids generation and degranulation through the suppression of SCF-mediated signaling pathways that would be beneficial for the prevention of allergic inflammatory diseases. Anti-allergic activity of IFE may be in part attributed particularly to the presence of britanin and tomentosin as major components evidenced by a HPLC analysis.

Luteolin-7-O-glucoside suppresses leukotriene C(4) production and degranulation by inhibiting the phosphorylation of mitogen activated protein kinases and phospholipase Cγ1 in activated mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells.

In this study, luteolin-7-O-glucoside (L7G), an herbal medicine isolated from Ailanthus altissima, inhibited 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX)-dependent leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)) production in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC(50) of 3.0 µM. To determine the action mechanism of L7G, we performed immunoblotting for cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) following c-kit ligand (KL)-induced activation of BMMCs with or without L7G. Inhibition of LTC(4) production by L7G was accompanied by a decrease in cPLA(2) phosphorylation, which occurred via the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathways. In addition, L7G also attenuated mast cell degranulation in a dose-dependent manner (IC(50), 22.8 µM) through inhibition of phospholipase Cγ1 (PLCγ1) phosphorylation. Our results suggest that the anti-asthmatic activity of L7G may be mediated in part via the inhibition of LTC(4) generation and mast cell degranulation.

Alleviation of OVA-induced airway inflammation by flowers of Inula japonica in a murine model of asthma.

The flowers of Inula japonica (Inulae Flos) have long been used in traditional medicine for treating inflammatory diseases. The effects on OVA-induced asthmatic mice of an Inulae Flos extract (IFE) were evaluated in this study. The anti-asthmatic effects of IFE were determined by observing eosinophil recruitment, airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR), Th2 cytokine and IgE levels, and lung histopathology. The IFE treatment effectively reduced the percentage of eosinophils and Th2 cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) when compared to the levels in OVA-induced mice. IFE also suppressed AHR induced by aerosolized methacholine in OVA-induced mice. The results of the histopathological studies indicate that inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus hypersecretion were both inhibited by the IFE administration when compared to the effect on OVA-induced mice. The IFE treatment also suppressed the serum IgE levels and decreased Th2 cytokines in the supernatant of cultured splenocytes. These results suggest that IFE may have therapeutic potential against asthma.

Saucerneol G, a new lignan, from Saururus chinensis inhibits matrix metalloproteinase-9 induction via a nuclear factor κB and mitogen activated protein kinases in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.

This study was conducted to demonstrate the inhibitory effect of saucerneol G (SG), a new lignan, isolated from the aerial part of Saururus chinensis (Saururaceae) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP)-9 inductions in RAW 264.7 cells. Aimed at evaluating the mechanism of action by which SG inhibits the LPS-mediated induction of MMP-9, the effects of SG on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) DNA binding activity, NF-κB-dependent reporter gene activity, inhibitory factor-κB (IκB) phosphorylation, degradation and p65 nuclear translocation were assessed. SG profoundly suppressed the DNA binding activity and the reporter gene activity as well as translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit. Furthermore, SG also dose dependently inhibited LPS-stimulated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). These findings suggest that SG may inhibit LPS-stimulated MMP-9 induction by blocking NF-κB and MAPKs activation.

Ethanol extracts of Saururus chinensis suppress ovalbumin-sensitization airway inflammation.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The aerial part of Saururus chinensis has been used in folk medicine to treat several inflammatory diseases in China and Korea. Previously, our group reported that anti-asthmatic activity of an ethanol extract of Saururus chinensis (ESC) might occur, in part, via the inhibition of prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) and leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)) production, and degranulation reaction in vitro, as well as through the down-regulation of interleukin (IL)-4 and eotaxin mRNA expression in an in vivo ovalbumin-sensitization animal model. However, the effects of Saururus chinensis on eicosanoid generation, as well as Th2 cytokines and eotaxin production in an in vivo asthma model, have not been fully investigated. Moreover, it has not been determined whether ESC can ameliorate airway inflammation in vivo. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic activity of Saururus chinensis on ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized airway inflammation and its major phytochemical compositions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Asthma was induced in BALB/c mice by ovalbumin-sensitization and inhalation. ESC (10-100 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (5 mg/kg), a positive control, was administered 7 times orally every 12 h from one day before the first challenge to 1 h before the second challenge. The recruitment of inflammatory cells and hyperplasia of goblet cells were evaluated by H&E and PAS staining. Levels of Th2 cytokines, eotaxin, PGD(2) and LTC(4) were measured to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of ESC in OVA-sensitized mice. Contents of major components were analyzed by HPLC using a reversed-phase C18 column. RESULTS: ESC (10 mg/kg) suppressed allergic airway inflammation by inhibition of the production of IL-4 (P<0.001), IL-5 (P<0.05), IL-13 (P<0.001), eotaxin (P<0.001), PGE(2) (P<0.001), LTC(4) (P<0.001) in lung extract and IgE level (P<0.001) in the serum. In addition, ESC (50 mg/kg) reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells and hyperplasia of goblet cells in the lung tissues. The anti-inflammatory effect of ESC was comparable to that of the positive control drug, dexamethasone. Its major phytochemical composition includes manassantin A, B and sauchinone. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ESC decreased inflammation and mucus secretion in the OVA-induced bronchial asthma model, and its anti-asthmatic activity may occur in part via the inhibition of Th2 cytokines and eotaxin protein expression, as well as through prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)) generation. This effects may be attributed particularly to the presence of manassantin A, B and sauchinone major component evidenced by a HPLC analysis.

Anti-inflammatory activity of bark of Dioscorea batatas DECNE through the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expressions in RAW264.7 cells via NF-κB and ERK1/2 inactivation.

We identified a bioactive herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory activity from an ethanol extract derived from the bark of Dioscorea batatas DECNE (BDB) in RAW264.7 cells. We examined the effects of BDB on nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. BDB consistently inhibited both NO and PGE(2) production in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC(50) of 87-71 µg/ml, respectively. The reduction of NO and PGE(2) production were accompanied by a reduction in iNOS and COX-2 protein expression, as evaluated by Western blotting. To evaluate the action mode of BDB and its ability to inhibit iNOS and COX-2 protein expression, we assessed the effects of BDB on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) DNA-binding activity, NF-κB-dependent reporter gene activity, inhibitory factor-κB (IκB) phosphorylation and degradation, and p65 nuclear translocation. BDB suppressed DNA-binding activity and reporter gene activity as well as translocation of the NF-κB p65 subunit. BDB also down-regulated IκB kinase (IKK), thus inhibiting LPS-induced both phosphorylation and the degradation of IκBα. In addition, BDB also inhibited the LPS-induced activation of ERK1/2.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin inhibits the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha in murine lung epithelial cells.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is associated with processes of inflammation. We investigated the effects of deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induced ICAM-1 expression in the mouse lung epithelial cell line, LA4. DPT (5 to 20 nM) inhibited TNF-alpha-induced ICAM-1 expression through nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in a dose-dependent manner and repressed ICAM-1 promoter activity. NF-kappaB reporter gene activity and DNA binding activity were also strongly inhibited. In addition, DPT inhibited degradation by the TNF-alpha induced inhibitory kappaB-alpha (IkappaB-alpha) in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together with our previous results suggest DPT might provide a basis for novel anti-inflammatory drug development.

The naturally occurring flavolignan, deoxypodophyllotoxin, inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced iNOS expression through the NF-kappaB activation in RAW264.7 macrophage cells.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT), a naturally occurring flavolignan with anti-inflammatory activity, was isolated from Anthriscus sylvestris HOFFM., and we examined its effects on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated, murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. Western blot analysis performed with specific anti-iNOS antibodies showed that a decrease in nitric oxide (NO) was accompanied by a decrease in the iNOS protein level. To clarify the mechanistic basis for DPT's ability to inhibit iNOS induction, we examined the effect of DPT on nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB transcriptional activity and DNA binding activity. DPT potently suppressed both reporter gene activity and DNA binding activity. These findings suggest that DPT in RAW264.7 cells abolished LPS-induced iNOS expression by inhibiting the transcription factor, NF-kappaB.

The effects of isoimperatorin isolated from Angelicae dahuricae on cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells.

Isoimperatorin (4-[(3-Methyl-2-butenyl)oxy]-7H-furo[3,2-g][1]benzopyran-7-one) is a medicinal herbal product that is isolated from the dried roots of Angelicae dahuricae. Isoimperatorin inhibits the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and COX-1-dependent phases of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) generation in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) in a concentration-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 10.7 microM and 24 microM, respectively. However, this compound was not able to inhibit COX-1 and 2 protein expression in BMMC that were treated with concentrations of up to 50 microM, which indicates that isoimperatorin directly inhibits COX-2 activity. Furthermore, this compound consistently inhibited the production of leukotriene C4 (LTC4), as well as the degranulation reaction in BMMC, with an IC50 value of 5.7 microM and 9 microM, respectively, and these effects occurred in a dose dependent fashion. These results demonstrate that isoimperatorin has a dual cyclooxygenase-2 selective/5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity, and therefore may provide the basis for novel anti-inflammatory drugs.

Effects of methyl gallate on arachidonic acid metabolizing enzymes: Cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells.

Methyl gallate (MG) is a medicinal herbal product that is isolated from Paeonia lactiflora that inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) dependent phases of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) generation in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 values of 17.0 microM. This compound also found inhibited the COX-2-dependent conversion of the exogenous arachidonic acid to PGD2 in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 values of 19.0 microM, using a COX enzyme assay kit. However, at concentrations up to 80 microM, MG did not inhibit COX-2 protein expression in BMMC, indicating that MG inhibits COX-2 activity directly. Furthermore, MG consistently inhibited the production of leukotriene C4 (LTC4) in a dose dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 5.3 microM. These results demonstrate that MG has a dual cyclooxygenase-2/5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity, which might provide the basis for novel anti-inflammatory drugs.