Anti-inflammatory effects of an ethanol extract of Angelica gigas in a carrageenan-air pouch inflammation model

Abstract

Anti-inflammatory effects of an ethanol extract of Angelica gigas (EAG; 50, 160, or 500 mg/kg) were investigated in a carrageenan-induced air pouch inflammation model. Injection of 1 ml of carrageenan (1%) into mouse air pouches markedly increased the exudate volume and exudate albumin concentration, which were significantly attenuated by oral pretreatment with EAG. EAG also markedly reduced carrageenan-induced infiltrations of neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes, but did not influence eosinophils or basophils. Carrageenan dramatically increased levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, which might be derived from the infiltrated cells. It also elevated nitric oxide, and slightly increased prostaglandin E2. EAG pretreatment significantly lowered tumor necrosis factor-α and nitric oxide, but did not alter interleukin-6 or prostaglandin E2 levels. These results indicate that EAG attenuates some inflammatory responses by blocking the tumor necrosis factor-α-nitric oxide pathway, and that EAG could be a promising anti-inflammatory drug candidate for inflammatory diseases.