Vanillic acid inhibits inflammatory mediators by suppressing NF-κB in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2011 Sep;33(3):525-32. doi: 10.3109/08923973.2010.547500. Epub 2011 Jan 21.

Abstract

Vanillic acid is a benzoic acid derivative that is used as a flavoring agent. It is an oxidized form of vanillin. At present, the mechanisms by which vanillic acid exerts its anti-inflammatory effects are incompletely understood. In this study, we attempted to determine the effects of vanillic acid on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Our findings indicate that vanillic acid inhibits LPS-induced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6. During the inflammatory process, the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and nitric oxide (NO) increased in mouse peritoneal macrophages, but vanillic acid suppressed both the enhanced levels of COX-2 and the production of prostaglandin E(2) and NO. Moreover, vanillic acid suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and caspase-1. These results provide novel insights into the pharmacological actions of vanillic acid and are indicative of the potential use of this molecule in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Caspase 1 / metabolism
  • Caspase Inhibitors
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
  • Dinoprostone / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Dinoprostone / metabolism
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation Mediators / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / drug effects*
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • NF-kappa B / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Vanillic Acid / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Caspase Inhibitors
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Interleukin-6
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Ptgs2 protein, mouse
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • Caspase 1
  • Vanillic Acid
  • Dinoprostone