Luteolin isolated from the flowers of Lonicera japonica suppresses inflammatory mediator release by blocking NF-κB and MAPKs activation pathways in HMC-1 cells

Luteolin (3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxylflavone) is a plant flavonoid and pharmacologically active agent that has been isolated from several plant species. In the present study, the effect of luteolin from the flowers of Lonicera japonica on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus A23187-induced mast cell activation was examined. Luteolin significantly inhibited the induction of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colonystimulating factor (GM-CSF) by PMA plus A23187. Moreover, luteolin attenuated cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. In activated HMC-1 cells, the phosphorylation of extra-signal response kinase (ERK 1/2) and c-jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK 1/2), but not p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) were decreased by treatment of the cells with luteolin. Luteolin inhibited PMA plus A23187induced nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation, IκB degradation, and luciferase activity. Furthermore, luteolin suppressed the expression of TNF-a, IL-8, IL-6, GM-CSF, and COX-2 through a decrease in the intracellular Ca²⁺ levels, and also showed a suppression of the ERK 1/2, JNK 1/2, and NF-κB activation. These results indicated that luteolin from the flowers of Lonicera japónica exerted a regulatory effect on mast cell-mediated inflammatory diseases, such as RA, allergy disease and IBD.