Title: Flavonoids isolated from Lespedeza cuneata G. Don and their inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV - 2 microglia cells
Abstract: Pharmacognosy Magazine,2015,11,43,651-656.DOI:10.4103/0973-1296.160466Published:July 2015Type:Original ArticleAuthors:Guijae Yoo, Seon Ju Park, Taek Hwan Lee, Heejung Yang, Yoon-su Baek, Nanyoung Kim, Yoon Jae Kim, and Seung Hyun Kim Author(s) affiliations:Guijae Yoo1, Seon Ju Park1, Taek Hwan Lee1, Heejung Yang2, Yoon-su Baek3, Nanyoung Kim1, Yoon Jae Kim1, Seung Hyun Kim1 1 College of Pharmacy, Yonsei Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Yonsei University, Incheon 406 840, Republic of Korea 2 College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 200 701, Republic of Korea 3 Department of Oriental Medicinal and Processing, Graduate School of Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Gyeonggi 446 701, Republic of Korea Abstract:Background: Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don, a perennial legume native to Eastern Asia, has been used therapeutically in traditional Asian medicine to protect the function of liver, kidneys and lungs. However, its effect on inflammatory nitric oxide (NO) production and the active constituents have not yet been explored. Objective: In this study, we investigated the phytochemical constituents of L. cuneata and evaluated their effect on NO production using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated BV2 cells. Materials and Methods: The 80% methanol extract of the aerial part of L. cuneata were used for the isolation of flavonoids. The isolated compounds were elucidated by various spectroscopic methods including nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry spectrometry. To evaluate the effect on inflammatory NO production, LPS stimulated murine microglia BV 2 cells were used as a screening system. Results: Nine flavonoids were isolated from the aerial parts of L. cuneata. Among the isolated flavonoids, compounds 4, 5, 7 and 9 are reported from the genus Lespedeza for the first time. Moreover, compounds 1 and 6 showed significant inhibitory effects on NO production in LPS stimulated BV2 cells without cell toxicity. Conclusion: In this study, nine flavonoids were isolated from L. cuneata. Among the compounds, only 1 and 6, which have free hydroxyl groups at both C3 and C7 showed significant inhibitory activity on NO production in LPS stimulated BV2 cells. These results suggested L. cuneata and its flavonoid constituents as possible candidate for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. Keywords:BV2 microglia, flavonoids, Lespedeza cuneata, nitric oxideView:PDF (1.11 MB) Full Text