Abstract
Citral is a major compound of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus L.) that has many pharmacological activities such as anti-fungal and anti-bacterial effects. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of citral and defined its mechanism of action in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Citral (3-12 microg/mL) significantly inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50: 6.5 microg/mL). Furthermore, it was found that citral effectively inhibited the transcriptional activity and expression of iNOS, and potently suppressed the DNA binding activity and nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B as well as I kappa B phosphorylation in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that citral is anti-inflammatory, and its effects may be due to the inhibition of NO production through the suppression of NF-kappa B activation.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Acyclic Monoterpenes
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Animals
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
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Cell Line
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DNA / metabolism
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Down-Regulation
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Enzyme Repression
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I-kappa B Proteins / metabolism
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Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
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Macrophages / drug effects*
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Macrophages / enzymology
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Macrophages / metabolism
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Mice
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Monoterpenes / pharmacology*
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NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha
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NF-kappa B / genetics
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NF-kappa B / metabolism*
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Nitric Oxide / metabolism*
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Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / genetics
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Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism*
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Phosphorylation
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Promoter Regions, Genetic / drug effects
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Transcription, Genetic / drug effects
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Transfection
Substances
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Acyclic Monoterpenes
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents
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I-kappa B Proteins
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Lipopolysaccharides
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Monoterpenes
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NF-kappa B
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Nfkbia protein, mouse
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NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha
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Nitric Oxide
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DNA
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Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
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Nos2 protein, mouse
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citral