The Effect of Trichosanthes Kirilowii Maximowicz Extract and Trichosanthes Kirilowii Maximowicz Cheonghyeol Plus on Anti-Inflammatory Factor Expression in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs)

Objective: To examine the effects of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maximowicz extract (TE) and Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxi mowicz Cheonghyeol Plus Phellinus linteus Cheonghyeol plus (TCP) on anti-inflammatory factor expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).Methods: HUVECs were activated with TNF-α and then treated with TE and TCP. The expression levels were then measured for intracellular genes (KLF2, eNOS, MCP-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1), proteins (KLF2, eNOS, MCP-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, ERK, and JNK, p38), and extracellular biomarkers (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and MCP-1).Results:1. TCP at concentrations of 100 μg/mL or greater significantly increased the expression of KLF2 and eNOS intracellular genes and significantly decreased the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and MCP-1 genes compared to the control group.2. TCP at concentrations of 100 μg/mL or greater significantly increased the expression of KLF2, eNOS proteins compared to the control group, and significantly reduced the expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, MCP-1, ERK, and p38 proteins. However, JNK protein phosphorylation showed no significant change compared to the control group.3. TCP at concentrations of 100 μg/mL or more significantly decreased the production of MCP-1, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 extracellular biomarkers compared to the control group.4. TE at a concentration of 100 μg/mL did not cause any significant change in the expression of intracellular genes or proteins, in the production of the extracellular biomarker MCP-1, or in the amount of JNK protein compared to the control group. Other intracellular genes, proteins, and extracellular biomarker expression showed the same trend as observed with TCP exposure.Conclusion: This study experimentally confirmed that TE and TCP could be effective in preventing or inhibiting various inflammatory vascular diseases due to their anti-inflammatory effects.