Study on the anti-inflammatory effects of active ingredients in Vespa velutina auraria Smith

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of 28 compounds isolated from Vespa velutina auraria Smith. An LPS-IFN-γ-induced RAW264.7 cell inflammation model was established. Nitric oxide (NO) release was measured using the Griess method, and molecular docking was performed to predict the binding energy with inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2). In vivo effects were evaluated via carrageenan-induced mouse paw edoema model, with serum IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10 detected by ELISA and toe pathology observed by haematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Thirteen compounds significantly inhibited NO release (p < 0.05), with compound 6 (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester, DBME) showing the best activity (p < 0.001). Twelve compounds had NOS2 binding energy lower than −5 kcal/mol. DBME suppressed paw edoema, upregulated IL-10 and downregulated TNF-α, IL-1β. Thirteen compounds exert in vitro anti-inflammatory effects. DBME acts in vivo by regulating inflammatory responses, suppressing paw edoema, modulating the expression of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and alleviating histopathological damage in carrageenan-induced mice.