Planta Med 2009; 75 - PC13
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1234472

Inhibition of LPS-induced nuclear factor NF-kB activation by Cymbopogon citratus leaves in macrophages: a strategy to develop new anti-inflammatory drugs

V Francisco 1, 2, 3, T Cruz 1, 3, A Figueirinha 2, 4, B Neves 1, 3, C Lopes 1, 3, T Batista 1, 2
  • 1Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000–548 Coimbra, Portugal
  • 2Centro de Estudos Farmacêuticos, Univ de Coimbra, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000–548 Coimbra, Portugal
  • 3Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Universidade de Coimbra, 3004–517 Coimbra, Portugal
  • 4Departamento de Ambiente, Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Campus Politécnico de Repeses-3504–510 Viseu, Portugal

Inflammation is the cause of a large number of diseases like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, diabesity, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Actually, the lack of responsiveness to the current anti-inflammatory drugs, their side effects, delivery problems and cost of manufacture, reinforced the development of new and safe anti-inflammatory agents. The nuclear factor (NF)-kB transcriptional system regulates the expression of many genes involved in inflammatory response [1]. Therefore, inhibition of NF-kB activation is now widely recognized as a valid strategy to combat diseases with a strong inflammatory component.

Natural occurring products have been providing an important source of many pharmaceutical drugs currently available. Previously, significant antioxidant properties were verified for a lipid- and essential oil-free infusion from Cymbopogon citratus (Gramineae) leaves [2]. In this study was analyzed the inhibitory potential of that extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NF-kB activation in a murine macrophage cell line, Raw264.7.

Our results demonstrated, by western blot analysis using specific antibodies, that C. citratus extract inhibited LPS-mediated IkB kinase (Ikk) phosphorylation, inhibitory kB (IkB) degradation and consequently prevented p65 protein translocation into the nucleus.

The present data support both the use of C. citratus as source of new anti-inflammatory drugs as well as its traditional use for inflammation treatment.

Acknowledgements: FCT and POCTI/FEDER for financial support. Research supported by a FCT PhD fellowship (SFRH/BD/46281/2008)

References: [1] Cruz, M.T. et al. (2001) Nitric Oxide 5:53–61.

[2] Figueirinha, A. et al. (2008) Food Chem. 110:718–728.