Lasia spinosa (L.) Thwaites was used as a traditional medicine to treat many inflammatory diseases for centuries. However, its effects on the inflammatory response are not yet characterized. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activities of L. spinosa leaf extract in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. We found that ethanol extracts of L. spinosa leaves showed anti-oxidant activity due to the presence of high levels of polyphenolic compounds. Treatment with the leaf extract significantly repressed the production of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Moreover, L. spinosa leaf extract treatment prevented activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway by inhibiting nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha (IκBα) degradation. Furthermore, the mitogen-activated kinase and phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathways were suppressed upon treatment with the leaf extract. In addition to suppressing inflammatory factors, the extract also activated the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme-oxygenase-1 pathway. We propose that L. spinosa leaf extract has the potential as an effective therapeutic agent for alleviating oxidative stress and excessive inflammation.

Launaea sarmentosa has been extensively used as a nutrient herb in traditional Vietnamese remedies for the treatment of various diseases, especially inflammatory diseases. However, no detailed research has been conducted examining the molecular mechanisms involved in the suppression of inflammatory response. Here, we studied the effects of L. sarmentosa methanol extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation using RAW 264.7 macrophages. The extract demonstrated potent antioxidant activity owing to the presence of polyphenolic and flavonoid components. Pretreatment with the extract inhibited LPS-mediated secretion of nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species, and tumor necrosis factor-α as well as the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, the activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway and phosphoinositide-3-kinase/protein kinase B pathways was blocked by the extract by inhibiting Akt phosphorylation. Additionally, the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway was suppressed, and endoplasmic reticulum stress was attenuated. Furthermore, the extract promoted the activity of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 resulting in the up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 pathway, leading to the suppression of oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Taken together, the results indicate that L. sarmentosa exhibits anti-inflammatory effects, and hence, can be further developed as a novel drug for the treatment of diseases associated with excessive inflammation.

Lipin is evolutionarily conserved from yeast to mammals. Although its roles in lipid metabolism in adipocyte tissue, skeletal muscle, and the liver, and as a transcriptional co-activator are known, its functions during development are still under investigation. In this study, we analyzed the role of Drosophila lipin (dLipin) in development. Specifically, we showed that the tissue-selective knockdown of dLipin in the wing pouch led to an atrophied wing. Elevated DNA damage was observed in the wing imaginal disc of dLipin-knockdown flies. dLipin dysfunction induced accumulation of cells in S phase and significantly reduced the number of mitotic cells, indicating DNA damage-induced activation of the G2/M checkpoint. Reduced expression of cyclin B, which is critical for the G2 to M transition, was observed in the margin of the wing imaginal disc of dLipin-knockdown flies. The knockdown of dLipin led to increased apoptotic cell death in the wing imaginal disc. Thus, our results suggest that dLipin is involved in DNA replication during normal cell cycle progression in wing development of Drosophila melanogaster.