Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Geranium koreanum on Lipopolysaccharide -Induced RAW 264.7 Cells
Background : Geranium Koreanum(GK), a species of the family Geranium is a perennial herb plants. We performed to determine the anti-inflammatory effects in Lipopoly -saccaride induced RAW 264.7 cell of ethanol extracts from Geranium koreanum. Methods and Results : The dried whole plants 50g of G. koreanum was refluxed three times in 0.5 L 70% ethanol for 2hr. The RAW 264.7 cells for anti-inflammatory assay were obtained from the American Tissue Culture Collection(Manassas, VA), and it cultured in DMEM containing 10% Fetal Bovine Serum(FBS) in 5%, CO2 incubator. An anti-inflammatory of G. koreanum measured by Ntrite oxide(NO) production and the protein expression levels of pro-inflammatory proteins such as COX-2 and iNOS, reductions in activation of NF-kB transcription factor. The results showed that G. koreanum was inhibited NO production and exhibited nontoxic in concentration 50~200㎍/㎖. Also, G. koreanum extracts indicate a significant reduction activation of NF-kB transcription factor and inhibition of pro-inflammatory proteins such as COX-2 and iNOS. Conclusion : The above results suggested that G. koreanum extracts expected the antiinflammatory effects and development possibility as nutraceuticals.