Gardenia jasminoides extracts and gallic acid inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation by suppression of JNK۲/۱ signaling pathways in BV-۲ cells

Objective(s): Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (GJ, Cape Jasmine Fruit, Zhi Zi) has been traditionally used for the treatment of infectious hepatitis, aphthous ulcer, and trauma; however, the direct evidence is lacking. Materials and Methods:We investigated the effect of the GJ extract(GJ) and gallic acid (GA) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammation of BV-۲ microglial cells and acute liver injury in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Results:Our results showed that the GJ extract and GA reduced LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO), interleukin (IL)-۱, IL-۶, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and prostaglandin (PGE۲) production in BV-۲ cells. The GJ extract and GA significantly decreased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in LPS-treated rats. Furthermore, the water extract, but not the ethanol extract, of the GJ dose-dependently inhibited LPS-induced JNK۲/۱ and slightly p۳۸ mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), and cyclooxygenase-۲ (COX-۲) expression in BV-۲ cells. Conclusion:Taken together, these results indicate that the protective mechanism of the GJ extract involves an antioxidant effect and inhibition of JNK۲/۱ MAP kinase and COX-۲ expressions in LPS-induced inflammation of BV-۲ cells.

Keywords:

BV-۲ cell , Gardenia jasminoides , MAPKs , NO , ROS