Paper Title
Lac Products and Bioactive Compounds on Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Abstract
Inflammation can lead to pain, fever, cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are crucial enzymes in inflammatory mechanism. Many natural products have been Lac is a natural resinous compoundfromlac insect (Lacciferlacca Kerr)It is commonly purified into lac dye, seedlac and shellacs which have been used for red dye in food, fabric, surface coating, cosmetics and even pharmaceuticals. However, their biological activity, especially inflammatory activity, of lac products has rarely been reported. In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity was investigated. Lac from two sources, rain (SamaneaSaman (Jacq) Merr.) and lychee (Litchi chinensisSonn.) trees, were extracted for red dye, seedlac and dewaxed shellac by maceration and solvent extraction. Lac products and their bioactive compounds, laccaic acid and aleuritic acid were examined anti-inflammatory activity on RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. The cytotoxicity, reduction of COX-2 and iNOSgene expressions, and NO production were performed using MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Griess reaction, respectively. The concentrations that ranged 1-20 µM of active compounds and 1-40 µg/mL of lac products showed no cytotoxicity. COX-2 and iNOS gene expression and NO reductionwere reduced dramatically in dose dependent manner. Our study showed the efficacy of lac products and their bioactive compoundson anti-inflammation which could promote in pharmaceutical purposes. Keywords - Lac Products, Anti-Inflammation, COX-2, iNOS, Nitric Oxide