Inhibitory effects of medicinal plant extracts on interactions between DNA and transcription factors involved in inflammation

Alteration of gene expression is one of the approaches to control the expression of selected genes and could be achieved by molecules acting on the interactions between transcription factors and DNA. In this respect, DNA-binding drugs are of great interest and object of a large number of research articles. The most suitable techniques for a fast screening are the electrophoretic mobility shift assay and the filter binding approach. In this communication, we present evidence showing the ability to inhibit the interactions between nuclear factors and the specific DNA elements. Among the results obtained, we found low concentrations of Emblica officinalis, Vernonia anthelmintica, Terminalia arjuna and Rumex maritimus, and very low concentrations of Saraca asoka extracts inhibit NF-kB-DNA interactions. On the contrary, high amounts of extracts from Argemone mexican were still unable to inhibit NF-kB/DNA interactions. The employment of several analytical and preparative procedures, among which preparative and analytic high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), liquid- chromatography/mass-spectrometry (LC/MS) and gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry (GC/MS), will help in identifying the bioactive compounds responsible for this very interesting feature.