Tussilagone

Tussilagone suppresses colon cancer cell proliferation by promoting the degradation of β-catenin.[Pubmed: 24269588]

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2014 Jan 3;443(1):132-7.

Abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway frequently induces colon cancer progression.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In the present study, we identified Tussilagone (TSL), a compound isolated from the flower buds of Tussilago farfara, as an inhibitor on β-catenin dependent Wnt pathway. TSL suppressed β-catenin/T-cell factor transcriptional activity and down-regulated β-catenin level both in cytoplasm and nuclei of HEK293 reporter cells when they were stimulated by Wnt3a or activated by an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3β. Since the mRNA level was not changed by TSL, proteasomal degradation might be responsible for the decreased level of β-catenin. In SW480 and HCT116 colon cancer cell lines, TSL suppressed the β-catenin activity and also decreased the expression of cyclin D1 and c-myc, representative target genes of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, and consequently inhibited the proliferation of colon cancer cells.
CONCLUSIONS:
Taken together, TSL might be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of human colon cancer.

Suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression by tussilagone from Farfarae flos in BV-2 microglial cells.[Pubmed: 18481023]

Arch Pharm Res. 2008 May;31(5):645-52.

Activated microglia produce diverse neurotoxic factors such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) that may cause neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
From the EtOAc soluble fraction of Farfarae flos (Tussilago farfara), we purified Tussilagone as a bioactive compound by monitoring the inhibitory potential of NO production in activated microglia through the purification procedures. Tussilagone showed dose-dependent inhibition of NO and PGE(2) production in LPS-activated microglia with IC(50) values of 8.67 microM and 14.1 microM, respectively. It suppressed the expression of protein and mRNA of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 through the inhibition of 1-kappaBalpha degradation and nuclear translocation of p65 subunit of NF-kappaB.
CONCLUSIONS:
Therefore Tussilagone from Farfarae flos may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of neuro-inflammatory diseases through the inhibition of overproduction of NO and PGE(2).

The anti-inflammatory effect of tussilagone, from Tussilago farfara, is mediated by the induction of heme oxygenase-1 in murine macrophages.[Pubmed: 19800419]

Tussilagone inhibits dendritic cell functions via induction of heme oxygenase-1.[Pubmed: 25091622]

Int Immunopharmacol. 2014 Oct;22(2):400-8.

Sesquiterpenoid Tussilagone (TUS) has a variety of pharmacological activities, such as anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory activities.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In this study, we investigated the effects of TUS on dendritic cell (DC) functions and the underlying mechanisms. TUS inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation of DCs, as shown by decrease in surface molecule expression, cytokine production, cell migration, and allo-T cell activation. In addition, TUS inhibited LPS-induced activation of NF-κB, MAPKs, and IRF-3 signalings in DCs, although it did not directly affect kinase activities of IRAK1/4, TAK1, and IKK, which suggests that TUS might indirectly inhibit TLR signaling in DCs. As a critical mechanism, we showed that TUS activated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which degrades heme to immunosuppressive products, such as carbon monoxide and bilirubin. HO-1 inhibitor reversed the inhibitory activity of TUS in DCs.
CONCLUSIONS:
In conclusion, this study suggests that TUS inhibits DC function through the induction of HO-1.

Int Immunopharmacol. 2009 Dec;9(13-14):1578-84.

Tussilagone (TSL), isolated from the flower of buds of Tussilago farfara (Compositae), is a sesquiterpenoid that is known to exert a variety of pharmacological activities. In the present study, we demonstrated that Tussilagone exerts anti-inflammatory activities in murine macrophages by inducing heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. Treatment of RAW264.7 cells with Tussilagone-induced HO-1 protein expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner without the induction of HO-1 mRNA expression. Tussilagone-mediated HO-1 protein induction was not inhibited by treatment with actinomycin D, a transcriptional inhibitor, but by cycloheximide, a translational inhibitor. Moreover, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) inhibitors such as SB203580, SP600125, and U0126 did not block Tussilagone-mediated HO-1 protein expression, suggesting that the Tussilagone-mediated HO induction may be regulated at the translational level. Consistent with the notion that HO-1 has anti-inflammatory properties, Tussilagone inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and murine peritoneal macrophages. Inhibition of HO-1 activity by treatment with zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP), a specific HO-1 inhibitor, abrogated the inhibitory effects of Tussilagone on the production of NO and PGE2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Taken together, Tussilagone may be an effective HO-1 inducer that has anti-inflammatory effects, and a valuable compound for modulating inflammatory conditions.