In vitro study of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Capparis cartilaginea Decne. leaves

Capparis cartilaginea Decne. (C. cartilaginea) leaves are used in folk medicine as a decoction to alleviate inflammatory conditions such as rheumatism. However, the scientific basis for its anti-inflammatory indication remains to be proven. The present study aimed to examine the antioxidative and anti- inflammatory effects of C. cartilaginea. The extracts and tea of C. cartilaginea showed a high antioxidant profile as evidenced by the determination of total phenolics and flavonoid equivalent and the radical scavenging activity. The IC₅₀ values of the extract and tea were, respectively: 24.0±1.4 µg/mL and 48.5±

4.4 µg/mL in the DPPH assay; 46.5±2.6 µg/mL and 103.8±1.8 µg/mL, in the ABTS assay. To investigate their potential anti-inflammatory effect, murine (Raw 264.7) and human (THP-1) macrophages were stimulated with LPS (1 μg/mL) in the presence or absence of C. cartilaginea tea, extract and oil at 50, 100 and 200 μg/mL. The main flavonoids isolated from the extract were tested at 50, 100 and 200 μM. The pro- inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α) were evaluated by ELISA while the production of nitric oxide in macrophages was measured by the Griess method. Raw 264.7 and THP-1 macrophages treated with the tea, extract and flavonoids showed a decreased production of nitric oxide in a concentration-dependent manner and modulated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. These results support the traditional knowledge of C. cartilaginea tea as an anti-inflammatory agent.

 

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
16. November 2023