Anti-Inflammatory Effect of o -Vanillic Acid on Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Macrophages and Inflammation Models

Abstract

Inflammation is an important biological reaction in the body in response to external stimuli. Excessive inflammation causes various inflammatory disorders such as allergic hypersensitivity, autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. Macrophages play a major role in the inflammatory response by producing inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide, prostaglandin E 2 , and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Natural products are often a source of bioactive compounds, which have great potential as novel therapeutic agents. Amomum xanthoides extract has been shown to possess various pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory activity. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential of o-vanillic acid (o-VA), a major compound in A. xanthoides, using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages and in vivo animal models. o-VA decreased, in a concentration-dependent manner, the LPS-induced gene expression and production of inflammatory mediators, such as inducible nitric oxidase/cyclooxygenase-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines, by reducing the nuclear factor-κB activation. In addition, o-VA dose-dependently ameliorated acetic acid-induced vascular permeability and zymosan-induced leukocyte migration. Thus, we suggest that o-VA can be used as a pharmacological agent or food supplement in the treatment of inflammatory conditions.