Abstract
Winter cress (Barbarea verna) seed preparations rich in phenethylisothiocyanate (PEITC) had strong in vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, significantly reducing the size of carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. This in vivo effect was comparable with that of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug aspirin. The seed preparation, in a concentration-dependent manner, reduced the mRNA levels of inflammation-related genes such as the inducible forms of cyclooxygenase and nitric-oxide synthase and the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Activity of the seed preparation was similar to that of the synthetic PEITC. PEITC was the most active of five different forms of isothiocyanate tested for their effects on in vitro proinflammatory gene expression. In vitro activity of the seed preparation was also compared with that of two known anti-inflammatory drugs. We conclude that Barbarea verna seed preparation may function as a potent anti-inflammatory agent, interfering with the transcription of proinflammatory genes.
Footnotes
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This work was partially supported by the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health under U01 TW006674 for the International Cooperative Biodiversity Groups and Phytomedics, Inc. (Dayton, NJ).
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doi:10.1124/jpet.105.096511.
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ABBREVIATIONS: PEITC, phenethylisothiocyanate; iNOS, inducible nitric-oxide synthase; IL1β, interleukin 1β; COX, cyclooxygenase; PG, prostaglandin; NSAID, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug; BSP, Barbarea verna seed preparation; PEO, PEITC essential oil; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; GC/MS, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry; MTT, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; ANOVA, analysis of variance; NFκB, nuclear factor κB.
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↵1 Current affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Ministry of Health of Republic Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan.
- Received October 3, 2005.
- Accepted December 21, 2005.
- The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
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