Hispidulin-7-O-Neohesperidoside from Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense Attenuates the Production of Inflammatory Mediators in LPS-Induced Raw 264.7 Cells and HT-29 Cells

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and involves secretion of inflammatory mediators. The flavone diglycoside hispidulin-7-O-neohesperidoside (HN) isolated from the methanolic extract of aerial parts of Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense, but its pharmacologic activities, with the exception of alleviation of alcohol toxicity, have not been investigated to date. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of HN for the treatment of chronic inflammatory illnesses, including IBD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells and HT-29 cells, the effects of HN on cell viability and nitric oxide (NO) production were examined via MTT assay and the Griess reaction, respectively. The expression levels of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: HN concentration-dependently inhibited NO production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Treatment with HN considerably downregulated the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β and TNF-α and the iNOS protein level in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, HN inhibited the production of the chemotactic cytokine, IL-8, in LPS-induced HT-29 cells. CONCLUSION: HN has potential as an anti-inflammatory agent to prevent and/or treat IBD. SUMMARY: Hispidulin-7-O-neohesperidoside (HN) is flavone diglycoside isolated from the methanolic extract of aerial parts of Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense. HN concentration-dependently inhibited NO production and considerably downregulated the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1β and TNF-α, and the iNOS protein level in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. HN inhibited the production of the chemotactic cytokine, IL-8, in LPS-induced HT-29 cells. HN has potential as an anti-inflammatory agent to prevent and/or treat IBD. [Image: see text] Abbreviations used: IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease, HN: hispidulin-7-O-neohesperidoside, LPS: lipopolysaccharide, NO: nitric oxide, IL: interleukin, TNF: tumor necrosis factor, iNOS: inducible nitric oxide synthase, CD: Crohn's disease, UC: ulcerative colitis, RT: room temperature, DMEM: Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium, FBS: fetal bovine serum, PBS: phosphate buffered saline, SDS: sodium dodecyl sulfate, PVDF: polyvinylidene difluoride, SD: standard deviation