Anti-inflammatory activity of ethanol extract derived from Phaseolus angularis beans

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Immunology
• Natural Products

Background:

• Phaseolus angularis Wight (adzuki bean) is a traditional folk medicine used for infections, edema, and inflammation in East Asia.
• Its ethnopharmacological significance suggests potential therapeutic applications for inflammatory conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of adzuki bean ethanol extract (Pa-EE).
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying Pa-EE's immunomodulatory activity.
• To assess the oral bioavailability and efficacy of Pa-EE in an animal model.

Main Methods:

• Assessed nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in toll-like receptor (TLR)-activated macrophages.
• Utilized reporter gene assays, immunoprecipitation, kinase assays, and immunoblot analyses to identify targeted transcription factors and signaling enzymes.
• Evaluated Pa-EE's efficacy in an ethanol/hydrochloric acid-induced gastritis model in mice.

Main Results:

• Pa-EE dose-dependently suppressed NO and PGE2 release in activated macrophages.
• Pa-EE down-regulated inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA expression.
• Pa-EE inhibited nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), activator protein-1 (AP-1), and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) activation, as well as spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), p38, and transforming growth factor β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1).
• Orally administered Pa-EE ameliorated gastritis in mice.

Conclusions:

• Adzuki bean extract (Pa-EE) exhibits significant anti-inflammatory properties.
• Pa-EE targets multiple inflammatory signaling pathways and transcription factors.
• Pa-EE demonstrates potential as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases and gastritis.