誘導型シクロオキシゲナーゼ発現抑制を指標にした植物油の機能性評価

概要

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Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a rate-limiting enzyme for prostaglandins (PG), is widely accepted as a target for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Recent studies have shown that COX-2 was involved not only in inflammation, but also in tumorigenesis and lifestyle-related diseases. We have been investigating the regulation of the COX-2 gene, and found that several chemicals derived from plants such as resveratrol (grapes) suppressed COX-2 gene expression. In this present study, 21 plant oils were evaluated for their suppressive effect on COX-2 gene expression by using a transient transfection assay of the luciferase reporter vector containing the human COX-2 promoter into arterial endothelial cells. We found that the COX-2 promoter activity was suppressed by origanum (65%), clove (40%), rose (30%), eucalyptus (25%), fennel (22%) and bergamot oils (21%) in descending order, suggesting that these oils function as suppressors of COX-2 gene expression, and that this assay system would be useful to identify novel functional components in food materials.
2008-06-15