Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Miodesin™: Modulation of Inflammatory Markers and Epigenetic Evidence

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of a combined herbal medicine Miodesin™ on the inflammatory response of key cells involved in the acute and chronic inflammatory processes as well as the possible epigenetic involvement. METHODS: After the establishment of the IC(50) dose, the chondrocyte, keratinocyte, and macrophage cell lines were pretreated for 2 hours with Miodesin™ (200 μg/mL) and stimulated with LPS (1 μg/mL) for 24 hours. The supernatant was used to measure the levels of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, and CCL5), and the cells were used to extract the mRNA for the transcription factor (NF-κβ), inflammatory enzymes (COX-1, COX-2, PLA2, and iNOS), and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, and CCL5). RESULTS: Miodesin™ inhibited the release of LPS-induced cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α; p < 0.01) and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, and CCL5; p < 0.01) and the expression of the transcription factor (NF-κβ; p < 0.01), inflammatory enzymes (COX-1, COX-2, PLA2, iNOS; p < 0.01), and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, and CCL5; p < 0.01). In addition, the evaluation of epigenetic mechanism revealed that Miodesin™ did not induce changes in DNA methylation, assuring the genetic safeness of the compound in terms of the inflammatory response. CONCLUSIONS: Miodesin™ presents anti-inflammatory properties, inhibiting hyperactivation of chondrocytes, keratinocytes, and macrophages, involving epigenetics in such effects.