Anti- inflammatory effect of Prunus tomentosa Thunb total flavones in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells

In this research, we investigated possible anti-inflammatory roles of Prunus tomentosa Thunb Total Flavones (PTTTF) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. PTTTF (4 mu g/ml and 40 mu g/ml) was applied to RAW264.7 cells induced with 1 mu g/ml LPS to test the impact of these flavones on neutrophil phagocytosis in vitro. Levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)) and two pro-inflammatory interleukin cytokines (i.e. IL-6 and IL-1 beta) in the supernatant fraction were tested via Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Expression of cyclooxygenases COX-1 and COX-2 was detected via RT-PCR. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) content was determined with a spectrophotometric assay (Micromethod). The results revealed that PTTTF at doses higher than 4 mu g/ml reduces the content of IL-6, IL-1 beta and PGE(2) (P < 0.05), and elevates the activity of SOD in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells significantly (P < 0.05). PTTTF at 40 mu g/ml showed no significant effect on the expression of COX-1(P > 0.05) but resulted in a significant inhibition of COX-2 in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells (P < 0.05). In summary, PTTTF had a substantial potential anti-inflammatory effect through the alteration of the synthesis of some cytokines and other mediators of the process of inflammation. Novelty statement - Prunus tomentosa Thunb Total Flavones (PTTTF) have known roles in the treatment of diabetes, but here we show that they are also potential anti-inflammatory agents. Our results show that PTTTF exhibited anti-inflammatory effects through altering the synthesis of some cytokines and other mediators of the inflammatory process.