Bark Extracts of <i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. Attenuate LPS-Induced Inflammatory Responses in RAW264.7 Macrophages

<i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. (<i>C. obtusa</i>) is an evergreen conifer native to temperate regions such as South Korea and Japan, traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflamm...

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Main Authors: Bo-Ae Kim, Ji-A Byeon, Young-Ah Jang, Yong-Jin Kwon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Plants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/15/2346
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author Bo-Ae Kim
Ji-A Byeon
Young-Ah Jang
Yong-Jin Kwon
author_facet Bo-Ae Kim
Ji-A Byeon
Young-Ah Jang
Yong-Jin Kwon
author_sort Bo-Ae Kim
collection DOAJ
description <i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. (<i>C. obtusa</i>) is an evergreen conifer native to temperate regions such as South Korea and Japan, traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of <i>C. obtusa</i> bark extracts remain poorly understood. In this study, I compared the biological activities of <i>C. obtusa</i> bark extracts prepared using boiling water (COWB) and 70% ethanol (COEB), and investigated their anti-inflammatory mechanisms in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. COEB significantly suppressed both mRNA and protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), along with decreased production of their respective inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E<sub>2</sub> (PGE<sub>2</sub>). Additionally, COEB selectively downregulated interleukin (IL)-1β expression, without affecting tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and unexpectedly upregulated IL-6. Notably, COEB did not inhibit the LPS-induced activation of major inflammatory signaling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT). These findings suggest that COEB exerts anti-inflammatory effects by modulating key inflammatory mediators independently of canonical signaling pathways and may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for controlling inflammation.
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spelling doaj-art-fd661c8b7c454174bc6c76ac010fbde72025-08-20T04:00:50ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-07-011415234610.3390/plants14152346Bark Extracts of <i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. Attenuate LPS-Induced Inflammatory Responses in RAW264.7 MacrophagesBo-Ae Kim0Ji-A Byeon1Young-Ah Jang2Yong-Jin Kwon3Department of Cosmetics, College of Health and Safety Science, Mokwon University, Daejeon 35349, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Cosmeceutical Science, Kyungsung University, Busan 48434, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Cosmetic Science, Daegu Haany University, Gyeongbuk 38540, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Cosmeceutical Science, Kyungsung University, Busan 48434, Republic of Korea<i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. (<i>C. obtusa</i>) is an evergreen conifer native to temperate regions such as South Korea and Japan, traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of <i>C. obtusa</i> bark extracts remain poorly understood. In this study, I compared the biological activities of <i>C. obtusa</i> bark extracts prepared using boiling water (COWB) and 70% ethanol (COEB), and investigated their anti-inflammatory mechanisms in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. COEB significantly suppressed both mRNA and protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), along with decreased production of their respective inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E<sub>2</sub> (PGE<sub>2</sub>). Additionally, COEB selectively downregulated interleukin (IL)-1β expression, without affecting tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and unexpectedly upregulated IL-6. Notably, COEB did not inhibit the LPS-induced activation of major inflammatory signaling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT). These findings suggest that COEB exerts anti-inflammatory effects by modulating key inflammatory mediators independently of canonical signaling pathways and may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for controlling inflammation.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/15/2346<i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. bark extractanti-inflammatory responseinducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)nitric oxide (NO)prostaglandin E<sub>2</sub> (PGE<sub>2</sub>)
spellingShingle Bo-Ae Kim
Ji-A Byeon
Young-Ah Jang
Yong-Jin Kwon
Bark Extracts of <i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. Attenuate LPS-Induced Inflammatory Responses in RAW264.7 Macrophages
Plants
<i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. bark extract
anti-inflammatory response
inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)
cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)
nitric oxide (NO)
prostaglandin E<sub>2</sub> (PGE<sub>2</sub>)
title Bark Extracts of <i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. Attenuate LPS-Induced Inflammatory Responses in RAW264.7 Macrophages
title_full Bark Extracts of <i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. Attenuate LPS-Induced Inflammatory Responses in RAW264.7 Macrophages
title_fullStr Bark Extracts of <i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. Attenuate LPS-Induced Inflammatory Responses in RAW264.7 Macrophages
title_full_unstemmed Bark Extracts of <i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. Attenuate LPS-Induced Inflammatory Responses in RAW264.7 Macrophages
title_short Bark Extracts of <i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. Attenuate LPS-Induced Inflammatory Responses in RAW264.7 Macrophages
title_sort bark extracts of i chamaecyparis obtusa i siebold zucc endl attenuate lps induced inflammatory responses in raw264 7 macrophages
topic <i>Chamaecyparis obtusa</i> (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. bark extract
anti-inflammatory response
inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)
cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)
nitric oxide (NO)
prostaglandin E<sub>2</sub> (PGE<sub>2</sub>)
url https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/15/2346
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