Integrated analysis of COX-2 and iNOS derived inflammatory mediators in LPS-stimulated RAW macrophages pre-exposed to Echium plantagineum L. bee pollen extract

• Published in: PloS one 2013-03, Vol.8 (3), p.e59131
• Main Authors: Moita, Eduarda, Gil-Izquierdo, Angel, Sousa, Carla, Ferreres, Federico, Silva, Luís R, Valentão, Patrícia, Domínguez-Perles, Raúl, Baenas, Nieves, Andrade, Paula B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino acids; Analysis; Animals; Antiinflammatory agents; Antioxidants; Antioxidants (Nutrients); Bees; Biological activity; Biology; Biosynthesis; Cell Line; Chemical compounds; Chemistry; Citrulline; Citrulline - metabolism; Complex Mixtures - chemistry; Complex Mixtures - pharmacology; Cyclooxygenase 2 - metabolism; Cyclooxygenase-2; Cytochrome; Development and progression; Echium - chemistry; Echium plantagineum; Enzymes; Flavonoids; Flowers & plants; Food science; Free Radical Scavengers - chemistry; Free Radical Scavengers - pharmacology; Gene expression; Health aspects; Inflammation; Inflammation Mediators - metabolism; Isoprostanes; L-citrulline; Lipopolysaccharides; Low concentrations; Macrophages; Macrophages - metabolism; Metabolites; Mice; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II - metabolism; Nitric-oxide synthase; Oxidative stress; Pollen; Pollen - chemistry; Prostaglandins; Rodents; Superoxide; Superoxides - metabolism
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059131

Oxidative stress and inflammation play important roles in disease development. This study intended to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of Echium plantagineum L. bee pollen to support its claimed health beneficial effects. The hydromethanol extract efficiently scavenged nitric oxide ((•)NO) although against superoxide (O2(•-)) it behaved as antioxidant at lower concentrations and as pro-oxidant at higher concentrations. The anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated in LPS-stimulated macrophages. The levels of (•)NO and L-citrulline decreased for all extract concentrations tested, while the levels of prostaglandins, their metabolites and isoprostanes, evaluated by UPLC-MS, decreased with low extract concentrations. So, E. plantagineum bee pollen extract can exert anti-inflammatory activity by reducing (•)NO and prostaglandins. The extract is able to scavenge the reactive species (•)NO and O2(•-) and reduce markers of oxidative stress in cells at low concentrations.