Anti-inflammatory and anti-rheumatic activities in vitro of alkaloids separated from Aconitum soongoricum Stapf

The aim of the present study was to investigate the cell proliferation-inhibiting and anti-rheumatic activities of chemical components from Aconitum soongoricum Stapf. Chemical constituents of Aconitum soongoricum Stapf. were separated and purified by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 chromatography. Structure was identified by spectroscopic technique, and physical/chemical properties were analyzed. The following four compounds were identified: i) Aconitine, ii) songorine, iii) 16, 17-dihydro-12β, 16β-epoxynapelline, and iv) 12-epi-napelline. Cell Counting kit-8 assay was performed to assess cell proliferation. ELISA was conducted to determine the cytokine contents, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis were performed to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels. Compared with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group, the contents of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and PGE-2 in the culture supernatant were significantly declined in the leflunomide + LPS and intervention+LPS groups, as well as the mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α, VEGFA and TLR4. Treatments with songorine, benzoylaconine and aconitine (at different concentrations) significantly inhibited the proliferation of HFLS-RA cells. Compared with the LPS group, the contents of PGE-2, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α in the culture supernatant were significantly decreased in the intervention groups, and the mRNA expression levels of TLR4, HIF-1α and VEGFA in the cells in the intervention groups. Songorine, benzoylaconine and aconitine from Aconitum soongoricum Stapf. have anti-rheumatic activities in vitro, which may inhibit the proliferation of HFLS-RA cells, and the underlying mechanisms may be associated with inhibiting the inflammatory cytokine production and downregulating the expression levels of HIF-1α, VEGF and TLR4.