Regulatory effects of Codonopsis lanceolata on gene expression of GM-CSF in macrophage-like cells

Aim of the study: We aimed to demonstrate ethnopharmacological role of Codonopsis lanceolata L., known to be used as a folk qi tonic herb to aid those who are weakened by blood loss or other injury in Korea, by examining the expressional level of hematopoietic cytokines. Results: BuOH fraction strongly up-regulated mRNA expression of granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Similarly, BuOH fraction also increased the proliferation of splenocytes. According to the analysis of transcription factors and their regulatory signaling enzymes by using reporter gene assay, pharmacological dissection and Western blotting, NF-κB and AP-1 were found to be up-regulated by BuOH fraction. Furthermore, ERK and PI3K seemed to be regarded as positive upstream signaling enzymes responsible for activation of these transcription factors. Conclusion: These data suggest that the enthopharmacological role of Codonopsis lanceolata on the recovery of blood loss and spleen qi may be due to its up-regulatory effect of GM-CSF expression via activating relevant signaling cascades.