Inhibitory effect of esculentoside A on prostaglandin E₂ production from murine peritoneal macrophages and rabbit synovial cells in vitro

Abstract

Esculentoside A (EsA) is a saponin isolated from the roots of Phytolacca esculenta. Previous experiments have shown that it has strong antiinflammatory effects. To investigate the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effects of esculentoside A (EsA),[³H] arachidonic acid (AA) prelabelled murine macrophage and radioimmunoassay were used to test the effect of EsA on the total release of AA and prostaglandin E₂ in culture supernatants. The results showed that EsA had no significant effect on the total release of AA from murine macrophages. EsA (2.5-10 μmol/l), from unstimulated murine peritoneal macrophages and rabbit synovial cells, could decrease the production of prostaglandin E₂. In A₂₃₁₈₇ and LPS-treated macrophages and synovial cells, EsA (10 μmol/l) could significantly decrease the prostaglandin E₂ production. These results confirmed that EsA exerted an inhibitory effect on prostaglandin E₂ production from murine macrophages and rabbit synovial cells.