Selected extracts of chinese herbal medicines: Their effect on NF-κB, PPARα and PPARγ and the respective bioactive compounds

Abstract

Chinese herbal medicinal (CHM) extracts from fourteen plants were investigated in cell-based in vitro assays for their effect on nuclear factor B (NF-B), a key regulator of inflammation, as well as on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) being key regulators of genes involved in lipid and glucose metabolism. 43 of the investigated CHMs showed NF-B inhibitory and 50 PPAR and PPAR activating effects. Apolar extracts from cortex and flos of Albizia julibrissin Durazz. and processed rhizomes of Arisaema sp. and Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit. that effectively inhibited TNF - induced NF-B activation and dose-dependently activated PPAR and PPAR were further investigated. Bioassay-guided fractionation and analysis by GC-MS led to the identification of fatty acids as PPAR agonists, including linoleic and palmitic acid. Copyright © 2012 E. Rozema et al.