Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Hot Water Extract of Aronia Fruits in LPS-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophages

ABSTRACT In this study, anti-inflammatory activity of hot water extract of Aronia fruits (AF-H) was examined. Pre-treatment with AF-H significantly inhibited production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E-2 in a dose-depend-ent manner in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The inhibitory effect of AF-H on LPS-in-duced inflammation was also confirmed by down-regulation of inducible NO synthase as well as cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression. Furthermore, treatment with AF-H significantly inhibited secretion of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor-necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6. Signal transduction pathway studies further indicated that AF-H inhibited LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor-κB, but not mitogen-activated protein kinase. Treatment with AF-H also parti-ally protected against LPS-induced lethal shock in C57BL/6 mice, although its effect was not statistically significant. These results suggest that AF-H is a more promising nutraceutical or medicinal agent for inhibition of LPS-induce