INHIBITORY EFFECT OF ESCULENTOSIDE-A ON PROSTAGLANDIN-E(2) PRODUCTIONFROM MURINE PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES AND RABBIT SYNOVIAL-CELLS IN-VITRO

ESCULENTOSIDE A (EsA) is a saponin isolated from the roots of Phytolac ca esculenta. Previous experiments have shown that it has strong antii nflammatory effects. To investigate the mechanism of anti-inflammatory effects of esculentoside A (EsA), [H-3] arachidonic acid (AA) prelabe lled murine macrophage and radioimmunoassay were used to test the effe ct of EsA on the total release of AA and prostaglandin E(2) in culture supernatants. The results showed that EsA had no significant effect o n the total release of AA from murine macrophages. EsA (2.5-10 mu mol/ l), from unstimulated murine peritoneal. macrophages and rabbit synovi al cells, could decrease the production of prostaglandin E(2). In A(23 187) and LPS-treated macrophages and synovial cells, EsA (10 mu mol/l) could significantly decrease the prostaglandin E(2) production These results confirmed that EsA exerted an inhibitory effect on prostagland in E(2) production from murine macrophages and rabbit synovial cells.