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Planta Med 1999; 65(4): 297-300
DOI: 10.1055/s-1999-13989
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Hypericin as a Non-Antioxidant Inhibitor of NF-κB

Peter M. Bork1 , Susanne Bacher2 , M. Lienhard Schmitz2 , Uwe Kaspers3 , Michael Heinrich1
  • 1Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany
  • 2Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
  • 3Willmar Schwabe, Karlsruhe, Germany
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Publication Date:
31 December 1999 (online)

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Abstract

NF-κB is a transcription factor involved in immune and inflammatory responses. Here we show that micromolar concentrations of hypericin inhibited the PMA- and TNF-α-induced activation of NF-κB in HeLa and TC10 cells, respectively. In contrast, NF-κB activated by H2O2 was not influenced by hypericin, indicating a pathway-specificity of hypericin. Hyperforin and a HYPERICUM PERFORATUM extract standardised on 0.15% hypericin and 5% hyperforin were not active at pharmacologically relevant concentrations. The PMA/TNF-α-induced transcription of a reporter gene, which is under the control of the NF-κB-dependent IL-6 promoter, was strongly reduced by preincubation with hypericin.