Plants (Dec 2021)

The Modulation of Nrf-2/HO-1 Signaling Axis by <i>Carthamus tinctorius</i> L. Alleviates Vascular Inflammation in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

  • Yun Jung Lee,
  • Yong Pyo Lee,
  • Chang Seob Seo,
  • Eun Sik Choi,
  • Byung Hyuk Han,
  • Jung Joo Yoon,
  • Se Hoon Jang,
  • Chae Ghang Jeong,
  • Yeun Ja Mun,
  • Dae Gill Kang,
  • Ho Sub Lee

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122795
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 12
p. 2795

Abstract

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Carthamus tinctorius L., known as safflower, has been used in traditional treatment for cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and diabetic vascular complications. We proposed to investigate how the ethanol extract of Carthamus tinctorius L. (ECT) can be used ethnopharmacologically and alleviate vascular inflammatory processes under cytokine stimulation in human vascular endothelial cells. Using the optimized HPLC method, six markers were simultaneously analyzed for quality control of ECT. Pretreatment with ECT (10–100 μg/mL) significantly reduced the increase of leukocyte adhesion to HUVEC by TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner. Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) such as intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and endothelial cell selectin (E-selectin) are decreased by ECT. In addition, ECT significantly suppressed TNF-α-induced oxidative stress referring to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. p65 NF-κB nuclear translocation and its activation were inhibited by ECT. Furthermore, pretreatment of ECT increased the HO-1 expression, and nuclear translocation of Nrf-2. These data suggest the potential role of ECT as a beneficial therapeutic herb in vascular inflammation via ROS/NF-kB pathway and the regulation of Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling axis is involved in its vascular protection. Thus, further study will be needed to clarify which compound is dominant for protection of vascular diseases.

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