Protopine reduces the inflammatory activity of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated murine macrophages.

Deok Sung Bae, Young Hoon Kim, Cheol-Ho Pan, Chu Won Nho, Javzan Samdan, Jamyansan Yansan, Jae Kown Lee

Index: BMB Rep. 45(2) , 108-13, (2012)

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Abstract

Protopine is an isoquinoline alkaloid contained in plants in northeast Asia. In this study, we investigated whether protopine derived from Hypecoum erectum L could suppress lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in murine macrophages (Raw 264.7 cells). Protopine was found to reduce nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production by LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells, without a cytotoxic effect. Pre-treatment of Raw 264.7 cells with protopine reduced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These inhibitory effects were caused by blocking phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases) and also blocking activation of a nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB).