Arjunic acid (AR), a main bioactive triterpenoid isolated from acorns, has been reported to exert pronounced anti-inflammatory activities. However, its anti-inflammatory mechanisms have not been elucidated. In this study, the model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells were established to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of AR. The potent targets and signaling pathway of AR for the treatment of inflammation-related disease were predicted based on network pharmacology. Furthermore, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators was determined by Griess assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), qRT-PCR, and Western blot. The protein expression of NF-κB, MAPK, Nrf2/HO-1, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and autophagy signaling pathways were gauged by Western blot. As the result, in the inflammatory model of LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, AR could significantly inhibit the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators, suppress the phosphorylation and translocation of NF-κB, and downregulate the phosphorylation of JNK/ERK signaling pathways. AR also inhibited ROS production and activated the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway by degrading Keap1. Furthermore, AR activated autophagic flux by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Collectively, AR was a potential natural product for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |