본 연구를 통하여 TPA로 유도한 마우스 귀 부종 염증반응에 대한 소목추출물의 항염증 효능과 기전을 확인하였다. 소목추출물은 TPA로 유도한 마우스 귀 부종을 억제하였으며, TPA에 의한 염증관련 단백질인 COX-2 발현 및 cytokine(IL-6, TNF-${alpha}$ 그리고 IL-$1{eta}$)의 mRNA 발현을 현저히 감소시켰다. 또한 TPA에 의한 NF-${kappa}B$ 및 MAPK의 활성을 억제하였다. 본 연구 결과, 소목추출물은 NF-${kappa}B$ 및 MAPK의 신호전달을 억제함으로서 항염증 효능을 나타내었다.
This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of extracts from Caesalpinia sappan L. (CSL) on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced ear edema in mice. Skin inflammation was detected by immunohistochemistry and the protein and mRNA expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and cytokines (IL-6, IL-$1{eta}$ and TNF-${alpha}$) detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR. The activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${kappa}B$) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were analyzed by Western blotting. CSL extracts markedly inhibited the TPA-induced expression of COX-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Also, CSL extracts significantly reduced the activation of NF-${kappa}B$ and MAPK. These results suggest that CSL extracts may serve as therapeutic agents against skin diseases related to inflammation.
