Affiliations: Department of Food and Nutrition, Sookmyung Women's
University, 53-12 Chungpa-dong 2-ka, Yongsan-ku , Seoul, 140-742 Korea.
Tel./Fax: +82 2 710 9395; E-mail: [email protected]
Note: [] Corresponding author
Abstract: Oxidative stresses are involoved in the process of chronic
inflammatory diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare
the anti-inflammatory activity of major dietary antioxidants. Murine RAW264.7
macrophages (4 × 10^6 cells) were
incubated in DMEM containing 10% FBS supplemented with 5 to 20 μM of
α-tocopherol, β-carotene or quercetin for 24 hrs, and then treated
with LPS for 16hrs. The medium was collected to measure
TNF-α, IL-6, PGE_2 and nitrite.
Expressions of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide
synthase(iNOS) were determined using the harvested cells. Results indicate that
TNF-α and IL-6 accumulations were significantly reduced
by 5 to 20 μM quercetin treatment, and
20 μM of α-tocopherol treatment.
Nitrite release was significantly reduced by 5 μM
quercetin treatment. However, PGE_2accumulation was not
affected by any of the antioxidants used. Expressions of COX-2 and iNOS were
effectively reduced by 5 μM quercetin treatment. These
findings indicate that dietary antioxidants possess significant
anti-inflammatory activities, and quercetin is the most potent antioxidant.
