Capilliposide from Lysimachia capillipes Hemsl. shows anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic effects via the MAPK/iNOS/NF-κB pathway.

OBJECTIVES

To clarify the antipyretic efficacy of Capilliposide (LC) and investigate its antipyretic mechanism.

METHODS

Dry yeast was used to establish rats fever model. Five hours after inoculation, 60 and 80 mg/kg LC was given to rats (i.g.). Rectal temperatures were measured at 2.5 h after administration. Then, the rats were sacrificed and blood and brain tissues were collected. The levels of cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α , interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were determined in serum, and prostaglandin E2 expression was measured in the hypothalamic suspension. Additionally, nitric oxide (NO) production and pyrogenic cytokines were detected in the supernatant of RAW 264.7 cells with or without LC treatment. Transcriptional analysis was performed and verified using western blot analysis.

KEY FINDINGS: LC treatment significantly decreased the rectal temperature compared to that in the fever model at 5 h. The levels of pyrogenic cytokines were reduced following LC treatment. LC alleviated the pathological damage of hypothalamus caused by fever. LC treatment also significantly reduced NO production in vitro. Western blot results showed that LC inhibited the nuclear factor kappa-B and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our results demonstrated that LC exhibited excellent anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic effects in vivo and in vitro through MAPK/inducible nitric oxide synthase/NF-κB pathway.