ABSTRACT
Salicornia herbacea L. is one of the halophytes that can grow in salt marshes, or salt fields along the seashores in Korea. The objective of this study is to investigate the mechanism by which Salicornia Polysaccharide, (SPS) activates macrophages. To analyze macrophage activation and iNOS gene expression, we performed nitrite generation assay, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. A polysaccharide isolated from the Salicornia herbacea L. significantly induces nitric oxide (NO). Immunohistochemical staining of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) showed that the increase of NO was due to the induction of iNOS production. RT-PCR analysis showed that SPS produced significant induction of iNOS gene expression. Immunohistochemical staining of p65 showed that SPS produced strong induction of NF-kappa B/Rel nuclear translocation. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay further confirmed the activation of NF-kappaB/Rel by SPS. In conclusion, we demonstrate that SPS stimulates the macrophages to express iNOS gene via the activation of NF-kappa B/Rel.