Barbaloin is a major component of Aloe vera, which has been used for a laxative. Also, barbaloin is C-glucoside of aloe emodin anthrone which is founded in Aloe vera. Barbaloin has varieties of pharmacological activity such as inhibitory effects on inflammation, histamine release, cancer and microbial infection. But the effect of barbaloin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages has not been understood. In this study, we evaluated the effects of barbaloin against LPS-stimulated production of nitric oxide (NO), inflammatory cytokines and MAPKs activation in macrophage. We treated barbaloin (0.1 , 1 , 10 , 100 μM) in LPS-stimulated mice peritoneal macrophage. Our results showed that barbaloin significantly inhibited production of NO and cytokines of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, interleukin (IL)-1β in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophage. Moreover, barbaloin inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK in a dose dependent manner. These results indicated that barbaloin could be useful for inflammatory diseases.

• Yong-Deok Jeon(Department of Oriental Medicine Resources, Chonbuk National University, Iksan 54596, Korea)
• Jong-Hyun Lee(College of Pharmacy, Dongduk Women’s University, Seoul 02748, Korea) Corresponding author.