Metabolomics analysis to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of polyphenols: glabridin reversed metabolism change caused by LPS in RAW 264.7 cells.

Inflammation has been shown to play a critical role in the development of many diseases. In this study, we used metabolomics to evaluate the inflammatory effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the anti-inflammatory effect of glabridin (GB, a polyphenol from Glycurrhiza glabra L. roots) in RAW 264.7 cells. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that in comparison with the LPS group, the metabolic profile of the GB group was more similar to that of the control group. LPS impacted the amino acid, energy, and lipid metabolisms in RAW 264.7 cells, and metabolic pathway analysis showed that GB reversed some of those LPS impacts. Metabolomics analysis provided us with a new perspective to better understand the inflammatory response and the anti-inflammatory effects of GB. Metabolic pathway analysis can be an effective tool to elucidate the mechanism of inflammation and to potentially find new anti-inflammatory agents.