Combined Phytochemistry and Chemotaxis Assays for Identification and Mechanistic Analysis of Anti-Inflammatory Phytochemicals in Fallopia japonica

Abstract

Plants provide a rich source of lead compounds for a variety of diseases. A novel approach combining phytochemistry and chemotaxis assays was developed and used to identify and study the mechanisms of action of the active compounds in F. japonica, a medicinal herb traditionally used to treat inflammation. Based on a bioactivity-guided purification strategy, two anthranoids, emodin and physcion, were identified from F. japonica. Spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize its crude extract, fractions and phytochemicals. The crude extract, chloroform fraction, and anthranoids of F. japonica significantly inhibited CXCR4-mediated chemotaxis. Mechanistic studies showed that emodin and physcion inhibited chemotaxis via inactivating the MEK/ERK pathway. Moreover, the crude extract and emodin could prevent or treat type 1 diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. This study illustrates the applicability of a combinational approach for the study of anti-inflammatory medicine and shows the potential of F. japonica and its anthranoids for anti-inflammatory therapy.

Targeted abrogation of diverse signal transduction cascades by emodin for the treatment of inflammatory disorders and cancer

“…It was also shown that emodin inhibits activated T cell proliferation and decrease cytokine production, IL-2 expression and [Ca 2+ ] in cells [9,10]. Mechanistic studies revealed that emodin inhibits CXCR4-mediated chemotaxis of leukocytes by inactivating MEK/ERK pathway and thereby proves itself as a potent antiinflammatory agent [11]. Yu et al [12] showed that treatment of emodin increases the phagocytosis of macrophages, activity of natural killer cells and the expression of cytokines (IL-1b and TNF-a) in leukocytes isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats.…”

Morus alba and active compound oxyresveratrol exert anti-inflammatory activity via inhibition of leukocyte migration involving MEK/ERK signaling

“…TIB-152), a leukemic T cell line, were cultured in complete medium as described [47]. The cells (1 × 10 6 /mL) were pre-treated with crude extract, fractions, or compounds of M. alba for 24 h in 1% FBS medium.…”

San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang Constituents Exert Drug-Drug Interaction of Mutual Reinforcement at Both Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetic Level: A Review

“…To further investigate whether p38, ERK and JNK are the only targets, molecules lied on the upstream and downstream are taken into consideration. Turns out, Ber, Bai as well as Rhe treatments all show inhibitory effect on MEK phosphorylation (Shen et al, 2011; Lim et al, 2012; Liu et al, 2015). Nevertheless, for the enhanced phosphorylation of TAK1, Ber is the only reported SHXXT constituent (Zhang et al, 2014).…”