Effect of Betula platyphylla on LPS-induced inflammatory in 264.7 cells and free radical scavenging activity

The bark of Betula platyphylla (Betulaceae) (BP) is one of the herbs used in Eastern countries for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. In the present study, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect of B. platyphylla methanol extract (BPM) and its chloroform fraction (BPC), ethyl acetate fraction (BPEA) and water fraction (BPW) was investigated. To determinate the anti-inflammatory effects, we examined nitric oxide (NO) assay and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production by ELISA and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were measured by western blotting on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Antioxidant activity of BP extract and its fractions was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity. The extract of BP and its fractions inhibited iNOS, NO, COX-2 and PGE₂ expression on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. The extract of B. platyphylla and its fractions has effective antioxidant activity; the ethyl acetate fraction was the most effective than the other fractions in DPPH assay. Therefore BP could be used as inflammatory and antioxidant remedy.

Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the Second Stage of Brain Korea21 project in 2008, Oriental Medical Science Center.

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