• Abstract
• Full-Text PDF [490 KB]
• Full-Text XML
• Article Versions Notes
• Supplement File 1

• Article Statistics
• PubMed/Medline
• Google Scholar
• Order Reprints

• Cite this article
• Export to BibTeX
• Export to EndNote

• [+] on DOAJ
• Hwang, S
• Lee, Y
• Yoon, J
• Lee, S
• Kim, J
• Kang, D
• Lee, H
• [+] on Google Scholar
• Hwang, S
• Lee, Y
• Yoon, J
• Lee, S
• Kim, J
• Kang, D
• Lee, H
• [+] on PubMed
• Hwang, S
• Lee, Y
• Yoon, J
• Lee, S
• Kim, J
• Kang, D
• Lee, H

•  CiteULike
•  Facebook
•  Mendeley
•  Twitter

This article is

• freely available
• re-usable

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2012, 13(1), 1258-1268; doi:10.3390/ijms13011258

Article

Prunella vulgaris Suppresses HG-Induced Vascular Inflammation via Nrf2/HO-1/eNOS Activation

Sun Mi Hwang ^1,2 , Yun Jung Lee ^1,3 , Jung Joo Yoon ^1,3 , So Min Lee ^1,3 , Jin Sook Kim ⁴ , Dae Gill Kang ^1,3,*  and Ho Sub Lee ^1,3,*

¹ College of Oriental Medicine and Professional Graduate School of Oriental Medicine, Wonkwang University, Shinyong-dong, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Korea ² Center for Bioanalysis, Division of Metrology for Quality of Life, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Doryong-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-340, Korea ³ Hanbang Body-fluid Research Center, Wonkwang University, Shinyong-dong, Iksan, Jeonbuk, 570-749, Korea ⁴ Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Jeonmin-dong, Yusung-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Korea

* Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 9 October 2011; in revised form: 11 January 2012 / Accepted: 11 January 2012 / Published: 23 January 2012

(This article belongs to the Section Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics)

Download PDF Full-Text [490 KB, uploaded 23 January 2012 09:44 CET]

Abstract: Vascular inflammation is an important factor which can promote diabetic complications. In this study, the inhibitory effects of aqueous extract from Prunella vulgaris (APV) on high glucose (HG)-induced expression of cell adhesion molecules in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) are reported. APV decreased HG-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. APV also dose-dependently inhibited HG-induced adhesion of HL-60 monocytic cells. APV suppressed p65 NF-κB activation in HG-treated cells. APV significantly inhibited the formation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). HG-stimulated HUVEC secreted gelatinases, however, APV inhibited it. APV induced Akt phosphorylation as well as activation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), eNOS, and nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which may protect vascular inflammation caused by HG. In conclusion, APV exerts anti-inflammatory effect via inhibition of ROS/NF-κB pathway by inducing HO-1 and eNOS expression mediated by Nrf2, thereby suggesting that Prunella vulgaris may be a possible therapeutic approach to the inhibition of diabetic vascular diseases.

Keywords: Prunella vulgaris; inflammation; NF-κB; eNOS; Nrf2; atherosclerosis

Supplementary Files

• Supplementary File 1:

  PDF-Document (PDF, 193 KB)

Article Statistics

Cite This Article