Cepharanthine exerts anti-inflammatory effects via NF-κB inhibition in a LPS-induced rat model of systemic inflammation

Systemic inflammatory response syndromes involving sepsis continue to have extremely high mortality rates. Inflammation is difficult to control when it spreads throughout the body and often progresses into multiple organ dysfunction, eventually leading to death. Cepharanthine (CE) is a plant alkaloid that possesses bioactive properties, with various known actions. In the present study, we investigated protective effects of CE in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammatory response model and examined underlying mechanisms.

We intravenously administered LPS (7.5 mg/kg) to male Wistar rats after intraperitoneal injections of either physiologic saline (LPS group) or CE (10 mg/kg; CE + LPS group), or 2 h before intraperitoneal injection of CE (post-CE + LPS group). We then compared changes in serum cytokine and nitrogen oxide levels over time, and performed histologic examinations of the lungs and liver in each group. Using mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells, we determined the effect of CE on LPS-induced cytokine secretion into the cell culture medium, as well as NF-κB activity.

The increase in LPS-induced cytokine levels in rat serum was significantly inhibited by CE treatment; this effect was also seen in the post-CE + LPS group. In addition, we observed histologic improvements with CE co-treatment. In vitro, CE inhibited NF-κB activation by inhibiting the IKK pathway.

These results suggest that CE exerts protective effects, at least in part, via NF-κB inhibition. CE may thus be a potential agent for treating systemic inflammatory response syndromes such as sepsis.