Modulatory Effects of Chrysanyhemi Flos Pharmacopuncture on Nitric-oxide (NO) Production in Murin Macrophagy Cells

(5) Journal of Pharmacopuncture, Vol.15, No.1, pp.29∼33, 2012

Modulatory Effects of Chrysanyhemi Flos Pharmacopuncture on Nitric-oxide (NO) Production in Murin Macrophagy Cells

Hwa-Young Shin, Hyun-Jong Lee, Yun-Kyu Lee, Seong-Chul Lim, Jae-Soo Kim

Abstract

Objectives: Much evidence exists that herbs have effective immunomodulatory activities. Chrysanthemi Flos (CF) is effective in clearing heat, reducing inflammation, reducing blood pressure and treating headache and is used as a pharmaceutical raw material for immune enhancers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the modulatory effect of Chrysanthemi Flos pharmacopuncture on nitric-oxide (NO) production in activating macrophages.

Methods: After a murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, had been cultured in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the immune-modulating abilities of CF were evaluated by using NO, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production, well as the phagocytic activity of macrophages.

Results: CF enhanced the activities of macrophages by increasing the phagocytic activity and decreasing NO production. Especially, both LPS and CF, 200 /ml, treatment could significantly reduce the NO production, but did not change the production of IL-6 on TNF-α.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that CF may have immunomodulatory value, especially for adverse diseases, due to increased NO production. It may also have potential for use as an immunoenhancing pharmacopuncture.

Key Words: CF; herb; immunomodulatory; macrophage; nitric-oxide (NO); RAW 264.7