Anti-septic activity of α-cubebenoate isolated from Schisandra chinensis

• Published in: BMB reports Vol. 48; no. 6; pp. 336 - 341
• Main Authors: Kook, Minsoo, Lee, Sung Kyun, Kim, Sang Doo, Lee, Ha Young, Hwang, Jae Sam, Choi, Young Whan, Bae, Yoe-Sik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: Sepsis; α-Cubebenoate; Inflammation; Bactericidal activity; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 1976-6696; 1976-670X

Sepsis is a life-threatening, infectious, systemic inflammatory disease. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of α-cubebenoate, a novel compound isolated from Schisandra chinensis against polymicrobial sepsis in a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) experimental model. Administration of α-cubebenoate strongly enhanced survival in the CLP model. α-cubebenoate administration also markedly blocked CLP-induced lung inflammation and increased bactericidal activity by enhancing phagocytic activity and hydrogen peroxide generation in mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages and neutrophils. Expression of two important inflammatory cytokines, IL-1 and IL-6, was strongly increased in the CLP model, and this was dramatically blocked by α-cubebenoate. Lymphocyte apoptosis and caspase-3 activation, which are associated with immune paralysis during sepsis, were markedly attenuated by α-cubebenoate. Taken together, our findings indicate that α-cubebenoate, a natural compound isolated from Schisandra chinensis, is a powerful potential anti-septic agent. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(6): 336-341]