Abstract
Vanillic acid is a benzoic acid derivative that is used as a flavoring agent. It is an oxidized form of vanillin. At present, the mechanisms by which vanillic acid exerts its anti-inflammatory effects are incompletely understood. In this study, we attempted to determine the effects of vanillic acid on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Our findings indicate that vanillic acid inhibits LPS-induced production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6. During the inflammatory process, the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and nitric oxide (NO) increased in mouse peritoneal macrophages, but vanillic acid suppressed both the enhanced levels of COX-2 and the production of prostaglandin E(2) and NO. Moreover, vanillic acid suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and caspase-1. These results provide novel insights into the pharmacological actions of vanillic acid and are indicative of the potential use of this molecule in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
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Caspase 1 / metabolism
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Caspase Inhibitors
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Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism
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Dinoprostone / antagonists & inhibitors
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Dinoprostone / metabolism
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Inflammation / chemically induced
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Inflammation / metabolism
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Inflammation Mediators / antagonists & inhibitors*
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Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
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Interleukin-6 / antagonists & inhibitors
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Interleukin-6 / metabolism
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Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
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Macrophages, Peritoneal / drug effects*
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Macrophages, Peritoneal / metabolism
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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NF-kappa B / antagonists & inhibitors*
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NF-kappa B / genetics
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NF-kappa B / metabolism
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Nitric Oxide / antagonists & inhibitors
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Nitric Oxide / metabolism
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
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Vanillic Acid / pharmacology*
Substances
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents
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Caspase Inhibitors
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Inflammation Mediators
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Interleukin-6
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Lipopolysaccharides
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NF-kappa B
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
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Nitric Oxide
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Ptgs2 protein, mouse
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Cyclooxygenase 2
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Caspase 1
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Vanillic Acid
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Dinoprostone