Total phenolic contents in selected fruit and vegetable juices exhibit a positive correlation with interferon-γ, interleukin-5, and interleukin-2 secretions using primary mouse splenocytes

Anti-inflammatory effects of a naturally lacto-fermented cucumber product on RAW 264.7 macrophages in association with increased functional ingredients

A naturally lacto-fermented cucumber product was developed for use as anti-inflammatory functional foods. To explore the anti-inflammatory characteristics, water (CWE) and ethanol extracts (CEE) from this product were selected to assess their anti-inflammatory potential on RAW 264.7 macrophages in the absence or presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), using four different inflammatory models. Changes in pro- (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokine secretions by treated macrophages were measured using ELISA. The results showed that both CWE and CEE had strong potential to inhibit LPS-stimulated inflammation in macrophages in a repair manner. CWE had a better effect than CEE. The total phenolic, flavonoid and saponin contents in CEE were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with IL-10 (r = 0.384, P = 0.036*) and TNF-α (r = 0.371, P = 0.043*) levels, but slightly correlated with TNF-α/IL-10 secretion ratios (r = -0.184, P = 0.359) by treated RAW 264.7 cells, respectively.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of strawberry and mulberry fruit polysaccharides on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages through modulating pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines secretion and Bcl-2/Bak protein ratio

This study is the first to isolate strawberry (SP) and mulberry fruit polysaccharides (MP) and assess their anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse primary macrophages. Pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine levels secreted by LPS-stimulated macrophages cultured with SP and MP for 48 h were determined using ELISA method to evaluate anti-inflammatory effects of SP and MP. The Bcl-2/Bak (anti-/pro-apoptotic) protein levels in the cells were determined using Western blotting method to evaluate anti-apoptotic effects of SP and MP. The results showed that the maximum absorption peak of SP and MP appeared at 240 nm with a small shoulder around 280∼310 nm, suggesting that SP and MP might be glycoproteins. SP- and MP-treatment significantly (P<0.05) decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, whereas the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was markedly increased, suggesting that SP and MP have anti-inflammation potential via modulating pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion profiles. Both SP and MP modulated Bak and Bcl-2 protein levels in the cells, suggesting that the SP and MP protected LPS-stimulated macrophages from apoptotic cell death. A negative correlation between cytokine secretion levels and Bcl-2 protein levels suggested that pro-inflammatory IL-1β and IL-6 cytokines decreased Bcl-2 levels in the LPS-stimulated macrophages.