Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Miodesin™: Modulation of Inflammatory Markers and Epigenetic Evidence

Abstract

Purpose. To investigate the effects of a combined herbal medicine Miodesin™ on the inflammatory response of key cells involved in the acute and chronic inflammatory processes as well as the possible epigenetic involvement. Methods. After the establishment of the IC50 dose, the chondrocyte, keratinocyte, and macrophage cell lines were pretreated for 2 hours with Miodesin™ (200 μg/mL) and stimulated with LPS (1 μg/mL) for 24 hours. The supernatant was used to measure the levels of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, and CCL5), and the cells were used to extract the mRNA for the transcription factor (NF-κβ), inflammatory enzymes (COX-1, COX-2, PLA2, and iNOS), and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, and CCL5). Results. Miodesin™ inhibited the release of LPS-induced cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α; p<0.01) and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, and CCL5; p<0.01) and the expression of the transcription factor (NF-κβ; p<0.01), inflammatory enzymes (COX-1, COX-2, PLA2, iNOS; p<0.01), and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, and CCL5; p<0.01). In addition, the evaluation of epigenetic mechanism revealed that Miodesin™ did not induce changes in DNA methylation, assuring the genetic safeness of the compound in terms of the inflammatory response. Conclusions. Miodesin™ presents anti-inflammatory properties, inhibiting hyperactivation of chondrocytes, keratinocytes, and macrophages, involving epigenetics in such effects.