• Y Choi, M K Lee, S Y Lim, S H Sung, and Y C Kim.
• College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
• Br. J. Pharmacol. 2009 Mar 1;156(6):933-40.

Background And PurposeTraditionally, the stem and root bark of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica (Ulmaceae) have been known to be anti-inflammatory in Korea. Anti-inflammatory effects of torilin, isolated from this plant and the underlying mechanisms were examined by using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglial BV2 cells.Experimental ApproachThe cells were treated with torilin prior to LPS exposure and the effects on pro-inflammatory enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and a pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) were analysed by RT-PCR, Western blot or elisa. To reveal the mechanism of action of torilin we investigated the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades and their downstream transcription factors, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and cyclic AMP-responsive element (CRE)-binding protein (CREB).Key ResultsTorilin significantly reduced the LPS-induced expression of iNOS, COX-2 and IL-1beta, and the subsequent release of NO, prostaglandin E(2) and IL-1beta into culture medium. LPS stimulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and p38 MAPK was inhibited by torilin. In addition, the inhibitory effect of torilin on NF-kappaB and CREB was shown by torilin-mediated recovery of LPS-induced degradation of inhibitor kappaB-alpha and suppression of LPS-induced phosphorylation of CREB respectively.Conclusion And ImplicationsThis study indicates that torilin inhibited LPS-induced iNOS, COX-2 and IL-1beta via down-regulation of ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, NF-kappaB and CREB and suggests that torilin has a potential as an anti-inflammatory drug candidate.

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