Anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effect of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica Nakai extract on a macrophage cell line and immune cells in the mouse small intestine

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Traditional Oriental medicine has utilized the barks of the stem and root of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica Nakai (UD) to treat inflammatory disorders. Aim of the study: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate UD's anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects on a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage cell line and small-intestinal lamina propria (LP) cells, respectively. Materials and methods: RAW 264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS in the presence of various concentrations of a UD water-soluble extract. Cell viability, nitric oxide (NO) production, and the level of inflammatory cytokines synthesis were measured. Among the mice receiving the UD water-soluble extract, changes in the LP cell populations and immunoglobulin (Ig)A production were evaluated. Results: The UD water-soluble extract inhibited LPS-induced NO synthesis and inflammatory cytokine production in a RAW264.7 macrophage-like cell line. Small-intestinal LP cells isolated from mice that received the UD extract displayed a decrease in the side scatter of medium-to-high cells. Those LP cells isolated from the UD-treated mice also showed a marked decrease of intracellular IgA. However, UD administration had no apparent effect on the synthesis of systemic inflammatory cytokines. Conclusions: These results suggest that UD water-soluble extracts have anti-inflammatory properties and, as such, can be used to promote intestinal immune-homeostatic conditions. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland ad. All rights reserved.