Screening of 20 Syrian medicinal plants for their anti-inflammatory effects and characterization of their molecular targets in the NFKB signaling pathways

Abstract

NFKB participates in a variety of cellular activities and plays important roles in diverse biological functions. The two most prominent and well defined functions for NFKB Je regulation of I immunological and inflammatory responses, and regulation of cell proliferatiob and apoptosis. The transcription factor NFKB is rapidly activated in response to pro-inflafmatory stimuli, infections, physical and chemicals stressors, thus playing a critical role in immune and I inflammatory responses. •s�stained NFKB �ctivati�� �an ]�ad to systemic inflarmbation or chronic

inflammatory disorders. In this. respect, inhibition of NFKB is an emerging theme in anti- inflammatory therapies. I . The current anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic drugs include glucocorticoidJ, aspirin, sodium salicylate, sulfasalazine, and gold compounds, all of which have been shown to block NFKB activity. Today, the list of therapeutic agents that inhibit NFKB also includes humerous natural plant derived immunosuppressive compounds. However, these compounds maJ have a range of . I undesirable side effects as a result of their pleiotropic activities and non-specific,nature. . : The application of anti-inflammatory therapies began thousands of years ago with the use of readily available natural resources. It is only recently, however, that the cellular and molecular . I mechanisms of inflammation have been appreciated sufficiently to design anti-inflammatory strategies with limited side. effects. . I In the present work, we explored the potent anti-inflammatory activity of 20 /syrian medicinal plants using NFKB-driven reporter gene assays. The following species have been evaluated: . I Anethum graveolens, . Arctium Lappa, Artemisia. sp, Calendula officinalis, Chelidonium majus, Chicorium intybus, Ferula hermonis, Foeniculum vulgaris, Linui usitatissimum, Nigella saliva, Olea europea, Prunus amygdalus, Rhus coriaria, Rosmarinus bjficinalis, . . I