Inhibitory effect of eupatilin and jaceosidin isolated from Artemisia princeps on carrageenan-induced inflammation in mice

Ethnopharmacological relevanceArtemisia princeps Pampanini (family Asteraceae) is an herbal medicine widely used as a hepatoprotective, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial agent in Korea, China, and Japan.Aim of the studyThis study aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammatory effect of the main constituents, eupatilin and jaceosidin, isolated from Artemisia princeps.Materials and methodsWe used carrageenan-induced inflammation in an air pouch on the back of mice and carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in rats to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of eupatilin and jaceosidin. Inflammatory makers, such as expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoblot analyses.ResultsEupatilin and jaceosidin blocked carrageenan-induced increase in leukocyte number and protein levels in air pouch exudates. Eupatilin and jaceosidin inhibited COX-2 expression and NF-κB activation, and markedly reduced TNF-α, IL-1β, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels. They also inhibited hind paw edema induced by carrageenan. Eupatilin and jaceosidin had similar activity.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that eupatilin and jaceosidin may reduce inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB activation, and that Artemisia princeps inhibits inflammation because of these constituents.