Hypericin as a Non-Antioxidant Inhibitor of NF-κB

Peter M. Bork; Susanne Bacher; M. Lienhard Schmitz; Uwe Kaspers; Michael Heinrich

doi:10.1055/s-1999-13989

Planta Medica, Table of Contents

Planta Med 1999; 65(4): 297-300
DOI: 10.1055/s-1999-13989

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Hypericin as a Non-Antioxidant Inhibitor of NF-κB

Peter M. Bork¹ , Susanne Bacher² , M. Lienhard Schmitz² , Uwe Kaspers³ , Michael Heinrich¹

¹Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany
²Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
³Willmar Schwabe, Karlsruhe, Germany

Abstract

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Abstract

NF-κB is a transcription factor involved in immune and inflammatory responses. Here we show that micromolar concentrations of hypericin inhibited the PMA- and TNF-Î±-induced activation of NF-κB in HeLa and TC10 cells, respectively. In contrast, NF-κB activated by H₂O₂ was not influenced by hypericin, indicating a pathway-specificity of hypericin. Hyperforin and a HYPERICUM PERFORATUM extract standardised on 0.15% hypericin and 5% hyperforin were not active at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. The PMA/TNF-α-induced transcription of a reporter gene, which is under the control of the NF-κB-dependent IL-6 promoter, was strongly reduced by preincubation with hypericin.

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