ABSTRACT
SoSoSo or its active ingredient chrysophanol regulates production of inflammatory cytokines & adipokine in both macrophages & adipocytes Hong-Kun Rim++, Phil-Dong Moon++, In-Hwa Choi*, Eun-Hee Lee**, Hyung-Min Kim & Hyun-Ja Jeong+ Department of Pharmacology, *Department of Oriental Dermatology, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul,**Division of Beauty Arts, Jeonbuk Science College, Jeongeup, Jeonbuk &+Biochip Research Center, Hoseo University, 165 Sechul-ri, Baebang-myun, Asan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea Received November 11, 2010 Background & objectives: Obesity is now considered as a major risk factor for the development of fatty liver diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and atherosclerosis. SoSoSo is a newly developed dietary supplement made of seven medicinal herbs. This study was aimed at examining the anti-obesity effect of SoSoSo or its active ingredient chrysophanol on the production of inflammatory cytokines and adipokine in macrophyage cell line RAW264 and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods: No release was measured as a form of nitrite by Griess method. The production of inflammatory cytokines and adipokine were measured with the ELISA method. The m-RNA expression of each cytokine and adipokine were measured using RT-PCR. The nuclear proteins for NF-κB were analyzed with western blotting. Results: SoSoSo or chrysophanol significantly inhibited the nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264 cells as well as in RAW264 cells-conditioned medium (CM)-treated 3T3-L1 cells. The production of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α were inhibited by SoSoSo or chrysophanol. In addition, SoSoSo or chrysophanol inhibited the activation of nuclear factor-κB in RAW264 cells. SoSoSo or chrysophanol inhibited the productions of IL-6, TNF-α, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 as well as the reduction of adiponectin production in CM-treated 3T3-L1 cells. Interpretation & conclusions: These results suggest a potential of SoSoSo or chrysophanol as a source of anti-inflammatory agent for obesity. Further in vivo studies would be required to confirm these findings.