Inhibitory effects of Irigenin from the rhizomes of Belamcanda chinensis on nitric oxide and prostaglandin E₂ production in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells

In the present study, we investigated antiinflammatory effects of six flavonoids isolated from the rhizomes of Belamcanda chinensis (Iridaceae) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The results indicated that irigenin concentration dependently inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PG) E₂ production. Furthermore, this compound inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 proteins and mRNAs without an appreciable cytotoxic effect. Treatment of the transfectant RAW 264.7 cells with irigenin reduced the level of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity, also effectively lowered NF-κB binding measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), which was associated with decreased p65 protein levels in the nucleus. On the basis of the above data, we suggest that the effect of irigenin in decreasing LPS-induced NO and PGE₂ synthesis is due to diminish the mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and COX-2, respectively, also may be due to under the suppression of NF-κB activation. Therefore, irigenin isolated from the rhizomes of Belamcanda chinensis could be offered as a leading compound for antiinflammation.