Based on ~
1H-NMR metabonomics technique and
Western blot assay, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of
Crepis crocea was discussed. In this study,
male SD
rats were treated with
water extract(2.5 g·kg~(-1)) and
dexamethasone acetate(6.25×10~(-4) g·kg~(-1)) for one week, and the
inflammation model was induced by
lipopolysaccharide(LPS). Then the counts of inflammatory
cells white blood ceel(WBC),
eosinophil(EO),
lymphocyte(LY),
basophils(BA) and
neutrophils(NE) in whole
blood of
rats were observed. The levels of
serum inflammatory factors
tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),
interleukin-1β(
IL-1β),
IL-6 and the expression of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) signaling pathway p65 and p-IκBα
proteins in
lung tissues were detected, and the change rules of
serum endogenous metabolites were analyzed by ~
1H-NMR metabonomics technique. The levels of TNF-α,
IL-1β,
IL-6 and NF-κB signaling pathway p65 and p-IκBα
proteins were combined with ~
1H-NMR metabonomics to study the anti-inflammatory mechanism of C. crocea. The results showed that the
water extract of C. crocea significantly decreased the number of WBC, NE, EO, increased the number of BA and LY, decreased the levels of TNF-α,
IL-1β,
IL-6 and the expression of p65 and p-IκBα
protein in NF-κB signaling pathway, and effectively alleviated the inflammatory symptoms. In the correlation
analysis of differential metabolites regulated of C. crocea, four significant metabolites were obtained, including
glycine,
creatine,
methionine and
succinic acid. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of C. crocea may be related to the decrease of TNF-α,
IL-1β,
IL-6 levels and the
protein expression of NF-κB signaling pathway, as well as the
regulation of
glycine,
creatine,
methionine and
succinic acid metabolism.