Anti-inflammatory effect of Red seacucumber (Stichopus japonicus) via inhibition of MAPKs and ROS generation in Raw264.7 macrophages

Abstract

Seacucmbers are used in formulation of traditional medicine in east asia and it was known that it exhibits different activities depending on the habitat. Therefore, in this study, we confirmed the anti-inflammatory effect of red seacucumber (Stichopus japonicus) from Jeju Island. We obtained a vacuum dried S. japonicas extracts (VDSEs) by treatment with MeOH or MeOH/DCM (2:1). Both extractions showed inhibition of NO production without toxicity. And VDSEs significantly inhibited PGE2, protein level of iNOS and COX-2 as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α at 20 and 50 &micro g/ml. VDSEs suppressed the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway molecules such as ERK, JNK, and p38 also reduced ROS generation. Our results demonstrated that S. japonicas extracts using different extraction methods presented anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting MAPKs and ROS generation. Therefore, VDSEs can beused and applied as a useful anti-inflammatory agent. (Stichopus japonicus) from Jeju Island. We obtained a vacuum dried S. japonicas extracts (VDSEs) by treatment with MeOH or MeOH/DCM (2:1). Both extractions showed inhibition of NO production without toxicity. And VDSEs significantly inhibited PGE2, protein level of iNOS and COX-2 as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α at 20 and 50 &micro g/ml. VDSEs suppressed the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway molecules such as ERK, JNK, and p38 also reduced ROS generation. Our results demonstrated that S. japonicas extracts using different extraction methods presented anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting MAPKs and ROS generation. Therefore, VDSEs can beused and applied as a useful anti-inflammatory agent.