1. Academic Validation
  2. Ethanol extract of Liriodendron tulipifera leaves displays anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing the Syk/Src/NF-κB pathway

Ethanol extract of Liriodendron tulipifera leaves displays anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing the Syk/Src/NF-κB pathway

  • J Ethnopharmacol. 2025 Sep 9;355(Pt A):120590. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2025.120590.
Ah Young Cho 1 Hyun Kyung Lim 2 Ji Heun Lee 3 Young Woon Ju 4 Youn Kyoung Son 5 Seungki Lee 6 Eun Sil Kim 7 Chae Won Lee 8 Jongsung Lee 9 Ji Hye Kim 10 Jae Youl Cho 11
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seobu-ro, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: choay08@naver.com.
  • 2 Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seobu-ro, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: lhk091605@naver.com.
  • 3 PharmacoBio Inc, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam, 13219, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: zheun@pmcbio.com.
  • 4 PharmacoBio Inc, Jungwon-gu, Seongnam, 13219, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: bio8712@pmcbio.com.
  • 5 Biological Resources Assessment Division, National Institute for Biological Resources, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: sophy004@korea.kr.
  • 6 Biological Resources Assessment Division, National Institute for Biological Resources, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: metany@korea.kr.
  • 7 Biological Resources Assessment Division, National Institute for Biological Resources, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: eunsilkim@korea.kr.
  • 8 Biological Resources Assessment Division, National Institute for Biological Resources, Incheon, 22689, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: chaewon326@korea.kr.
  • 9 Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seobu-ro, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: bioneer@skku.edu.
  • 10 Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seobu-ro, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kjhkjhmlml@skku.edu.
  • 11 Department of Integrative Biotechnology, Sungkyunkwan University, 2066 Seobu-ro, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jaecho@skku.edu.
Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Liriodendron tulipifera L. (family Magnoliaceae), native to North America, has traditionally been used to treat inflammation-related diseases, such as rheumatism, catarrh, stomachache, dysentery, or headache. Historical records also suggest its strong vermifuge activity against parasites.

Aim of the study: Although L. tulipifera has been reported to exhibit notable anti-inflammatory activity, its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of an ethanol extract of L. tulipifera (Lt-EE) through in vitro and in vivo experiments and to elucidate its molecular mechanisms and target proteins.

Materials and methods: RAW264.7 cells and HEK293T cells were used to analyze cellular activities and determine the molecular targets of Lt-EE. Griess reagent assays were used to evaluate the influence of Lt-EE on nitric oxide (NO) generation. In addition, western blotting was conducted to analyze the in vitro effects of Lt-EE at the protein level while real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Reverse transcription PCR were used to assess the in vitro effects of Lt-EE at the transcript level. Luciferase reporter assays and cellular thermal shift assays (CETSAs) were employed to confirm the molecular target(s) of Lt-EE. To evaluate the in vivo effects, Lt-EE was administered at 50 and 150 mg/kg intraperitoneally in an LPS-induced peritonitis model, and at 100 and 150 mg/kg orally in an HCl/EtOH-induced acute gastritis mouse model.

Results: Lt-EE was not cytotoxic but effectively suppressed the production of NO. mRNA expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines iNOS, IL-6, and IL-1β were decreased by Lt-EE in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, the overall pathway of Lt-EE was revealed by western blotting. Through CETSA, the targets of Lt-EE were confirmed to be Syk and Src. Lt-EE significantly ameliorated inflammation in both LPS-induced peritonitis and HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis models.

Conclusions: An ethanol extract of L. tulipifera leaves showed significant anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting Syk and Src and the NF-κB signaling pathway. These results indicate that Lt-EE is a potent anti-inflammatory agent.

Keywords

Acute gastritis; Anti-Inflammatory activity; Liriodendron tulipifera; Macrophages; Nitric oxide; Peritonitis.

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