Neuroinflammation is an important contributor to pathogenesis of age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease. Accumulating evidence indicates that inhibition of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation may become a reliable protective strategy for neurodegenerative processes. Flavonoids, widely distributed in the vegetable kingdom and in foods such as honey, have been suggested as novel therapeutic agents for the reduction of the deleterious effects of neuroinflammation. The present study investigated the potential protective effect of a honey flavonoid extract (HFE) on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated N13 microglia. The results show that HFE significantly inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β. The expressions of iNOS and the production of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROS) were also significantly inhibited. Accordingly, the present study demonstrates that HFE is a potent inhibitor of microglial activation and thus a potential preventive-therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases involving neuroinflammation.
Candida albicans is the most prevalent fungal pathogen in humans. In this study, flavonoids from unprocessed multifloral honey were extracted and investigated their anticandidal activity in vitro. These results indicated that honey flavonoids inhibited Candida growth; however, they did not kill the yeasts and did not directly affect the cytoplasmic membrane.
The viability tests of cells yeast with the fluorescent probe Sybr green I in combination withpropidium iodide suggested that antifungal activity of honey flavonoids depended on their relative lipophilic properties and that they may reach a possible intracellular site of action without compromising membrane-associated functions.
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