Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Ruta chalepensis L. extracts on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells

Abstract

Ruta chalepensis L. is used in the traditional herbal treatment of various diseases. The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of different extracts of R. chalepensis L. on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expressions and their antioxidant capacity on murine RAW 264.7 macrophage challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In fact, this study shows that the ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of R. chalepensis L. considerably decreased the nitric oxide (NO) production in murine RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. Thus, the treatment with both extracts significantly suppressed the levels of iNOS and COX-2 gene expressions through the inhibition of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation. The preincubation of RAW 264.7 cells with various concentrations of ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts decreased the production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in a dose-dependent manner. It also increased the activities of antioxidative enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in LPS-stimulated macrophages, compared to those in the cells treated only with LPS. Besides, the (1)H NMR spectra of both extracts have demonstrated the presence of aromatic signals, thus confirming the existence of phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and polyphenols. So, the ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts of R. chalepensis L. have been shown to possess enough antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities to prevent LPS-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Diabetic, and Anti-Alzheimer’s Effects of Prenylated Flavonoids from Okinawa Propolis: An Investigation by Experimental and Computational Studies

“…They also inhibited COX-2 activity dose-dependently in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, and the IC 50 values for NA, NB, NC, INB, and GN were 11.74, 17.90, 15.45, 23.78, and 24.03 µM, respectively ( Figure 3 ). In LPS-treated macrophage cells, two major pro-inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE 2 ) are produced from l -arginine and arachidonic acid, respectively, and these reactions are catalyzed by transcriptional activation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase ( i NOS) and COX-2 genes, respectively [ 23 , 24 ]. Importantly, i NOS and COX-2 are downstream signaling components of PAK1 [ 25 , 26 ].…”

Thymoquinone protects the rat kidneys against renal fibrosis

“…The results of previous studies indicated that LPS injection increased the level of MDA and decreased the levels of glutathione (GH)( 20 ). Some studies suggest that treatment with LPS, decreased glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase( 21 ). Based on our observations, subclinical injection of LPS significantly increased MDA, decreased total thiol groups and SOD and CAT activities in the renal tissue.…”

In vitro digestion, antioxidant and antiacetylcholinesterase activities of two species of Ruta: Ruta chalepensis and Ruta montana

“…The infusions/decoctions of the two species (R. montana and R. chalepensis) are widely used in folk medicine. They are used as a tonic, a febrifuge and a treatment of malaria as well as inflammatory, antioxidant and microbial processes (Khlifi et al 2013;Kacem et al 2014).…”