Anti-inflammatory activity of the synthetic chalcone derivatives: Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase-catalyzed nitric oxide production from lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7 cells

Abstract

Chalcones belong to the flavonoid family from plant origin and some of them possess anti-inflammatory activity. Recently, several natural and synthetic chalcone derivatives were reported to inhibit inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-catalyzed NO production in cell cultures. In the present study, to find the optimal chemical structures and to elucidate their action mechanisms, 41 synthetic chalcones having the substituent(s) on A- and B-rings were prepared and their effects on iNOS-catalyzed NO production were evaluated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. When simultaneously added with LPS, 2′-methoxy-3,4-dichlorochalcone (Ch15), 2′-hydroxy-6′- methoxychalcone (Ch29), 2′-hydroxy-3-bromo-6′-methoxychalcone (Ch31) and 2′-hydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxychalcone (Ch35) among the tested compounds potently inhibited NO production (IC50s, 7.1-9.6 μM). The favorable chemical structures were found to be a methoxyl substitution in A-ring at an adjacent position (2′ or 6′) to carbonyl moiety with/without 2′-(or 6′-)hydroxyl group and 3-halogen substitution in B-ring. When the cellular action mechanisms of Ch15, Ch31 and Ch35 were further examined using Western blotting and electrophoretic mobility shift assay, it was revealed that Ch15 and Ch31 clearly down-regulated iNOS expression while Ch35 did not. Moreover, Ch15 and Ch31 were proved to suppress the nuclear transcription factor-κB activation. From the results, it is suggested that certain chalcone derivatives potently inhibit iNOS-catalyzed NO production by the different cellular mechanisms, iNOS down-regulation and/or iNOS inhibition, depending on their chemical structures. These chalcone derivatives may possibly be used as lead compounds for developing new anti-inflammatory agents. © 2007 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.