Cleistocalyx nervosum var. paniala berry extract and cyanidin-3-glucoside inhibit hepatotoxicity and apoptosis.

Excessive oxidative toxicity in liver cells is a significant risk factor that can cause cellular injury, leading to the development of chronic liver disease (CLD). Natural anthocyanins have been shown to prevent the harmful effects of oxidative toxicity in mammalian cells. Ripe Cleistocalyx nervosum var. paniala berry fruits are rich in anthocyanins, which have been reported to possess many health benefits. Therefore, this study examined the protective effect of ethanolic fruit extract of C. nervosum var. paniala (CNPE) against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative damage and cell death in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Results showed that CNPE had strong antioxidant capabilities and high amounts of total phenolics and anthocyanins. HPLC analysis showed that CNPE consists of cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G). Our investigations found that HepG2 cells pretreated with CNPE or anthocyanin C3G inhibited H2O2-induced cellular damage and apoptosis by increasing the viability of cells, the expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein, and the activities of cellular antioxidant enzymes, namely SOD, CAT, and GPx. Moreover, both CNPE and C3G significantly suppressed expression of apoptotic proteins (Bax and cytochrome c) and the activities of cleaved caspase-9 and caspase-3 caused by H2O2. Our results indicate that CNPE and C3G can suppress H2O2-induced hepatotoxicity and cell death through stimulation of endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities and inhibition of apoptosis pathway in HepG2 cells. These findings might support development of CNPE as an alternative natural product for preventing CLD.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Mechanism of Sweet Corn Extract on Il-1ß-Induced Inflammation in a Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Line (ARPE-19).

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease associated with aging. Development of AMD is related to degeneration and dysfunction of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) caused by low-grade chronic inflammation in aged RPE cells leading to visual loss and blindness. Sweet corn is a good source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which were reported to exert various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory activity. The present study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity and mechanisms of SCE to inhibit the production of inflammatory biomarkers related to AMD development. Cells were pretreated with SCE for 1 h followed by stimulation with IL-1ß for another 24 h. The results demonstrated that SCE attenuated IL-1ß-induced production of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 and the expression of ICAM-1 and iNOS in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, SCE suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, SAPK/JNK, p38, and NF-κB (p65) in IL-1ß-stimulated ARPE-19 cells. These results proved that SCE protected ARPE-19 cells from IL-1ß-induced inflammation by inhibiting inflammatory markers partly via suppressing the activation of MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. Overall, SCE is a potential agent for the prevention of AMD development, which should be further evaluated in animals.

Iron from nanostructured ferric phosphate: absorption and biodistribution in mice and bioavailability in iron deficient anemic women.

Food fortification with iron nanoparticles (NPs) could help prevent iron deficiency anemia, but the absorption pathway and biodistribution of iron-NPs and their bioavailability in humans is unclear. Dietary non-heme iron is physiologically absorbed via the divalent metal transporter-1 (DMT1) pathway. Using radio- iron isotope labelling in mice with a partial knockdown of intestine-specific DMT1, we assessed oral absorption and tissue biodistribution of nanostructured ferric phosphate (FePO4-NP; specific surface area [SSA] 98 m2g-1) compared to to ferrous sulfate (FeSO4), the reference compound. We show that absorption of iron from FePO4-NP appears to be largely DMT1 dependent and that its biodistribution after absorption is similar to that from FeSO4, without abnormal deposition of iron in the reticuloendothelial system. Furthermore, we demonstrate high bioavailability from iron NPs in iron deficient anemic women in a randomized, cross-over study using stable-isotope labelling: absorption and subsequent erythrocyte iron utilization from two 57Fe-labeled FePO4-NP with SSAs of 98 m2g-1 and 188 m2g-1 was 2.8-fold and 5.4-fold higher than from bulk FePO4 with an SSA of 25 m2g-1 (P < 0.001) when added to a rice and vegetable meal consumed by iron deficient anemic women. The FePO4-NP 188 m2g-1 achieved 72% relative bioavailability compared to FeSO4. These data suggest FePO4-NPs may be useful for nutritional applications.

Maternal iron kinetics and maternal-fetal iron transfer in normal-weight and overweight pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation during pregnancy may aggravate iron deficiency (ID) by increasing serum hepcidin and reducing iron absorption. This could restrict iron transfer to the fetus, increasing risk of infant ID and its adverse effects. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess whether iron bioavailability and/or iron transfer to the fetus is impaired in overweight/obese (OW) pregnant women with adiposity-related inflammation, compared with normal-weight (NW) pregnant women. METHODS: In this prospective study, we followed NW (n = 43) and OW (n = 40) pregnant women who were receiving iron supplements from the 14th week of gestation to term and followed their infants to age 6 mo. We administered 57Fe and 58Fe in test meals mid-second and mid-third trimester, and measured tracer kinetics throughout pregnancy and infancy. RESULTS: In total, 38 NW and 36 OW women completed the study to pregnancy week 36, whereas 30 NW and 27 OW mother-infant pairs completed the study to 6 mo postpartum. Both groups had comparable iron status, hemoglobin, and serum hepcidin throughout pregnancy. Compared with the NW, the OW pregnant women had 1) 43% lower fractional iron absorption (FIA) in the third trimester (P = 0.033) with median [IQR] FIA of 23.9% [11.4%-35.7%] and 13.5% [10.8%-19.5%], respectively; and 2) 17% lower maternal-fetal iron transfer from the first tracer (P = 0.051) with median [IQR] maternal-fetal iron transfer of 4.8% [4.2%-5.4%] and 4.0% [3.6%-4.6%], respectively. Compared with the infants born to NW women, infants born to OW women had lower body iron stores (BIS) with median [IQR] 7.7 [6.3-8.8] and 6.6 [4.6-9.2] mg/kg body weight at age 6 mo, respectively (P = 0.024). Prepregnancy BMI was a negative predictor of maternal-fetal iron transfer (ß = -0.339, SE = 0.144, P = 0.025) and infant BIS (ß = -0.237, SE = 0.026, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with NW, OW pregnant women failed to upregulate iron absorption in late pregnancy, transferred less iron to their fetus, and their infants had lower BIS. These impairments were associated with inflammation independently of serum hepcidin.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02747316.

Development of Chrysin Loaded Oil-in-Water Nanoemulsion for Improving Bioaccessibility.

Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone) is a remarkable flavonoid exhibiting many health-promoting activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD). Nevertheless, chrysin has been addressed regarding its limited applications, due to low bioaccessibility. Therefore, to improve chrysin bioaccessibility, a colloidal delivery system involving nanoemulsion was developed as chrysin nanoemulsion (chrysin-NE) using an oil-in-water system. Our results show that chrysin can be loaded by approximately 174.21 µg/g nanoemulsion (100.29 ± 0.53% w/w) when medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil was used as an oil phase. The nanocolloidal size, polydispersity index, and surface charge of chrysin-NE were approximately 161 nm, 0.21, and -32 mV, respectively. These properties were stable for at least five weeks at room temperature. Furthermore, in vitro chrysin bioactivities regarding antioxidant and anti-AD were maintained as pure chrysin, suggesting that multistep formulation could not affect chrysin properties. Interestingly, the developed chrysin-NE was more tolerant of gastrointestinal digestion and significantly absorbed by the human intestinal cells (Caco-2) than pure chrysin. These findings demonstrate that the encapsulation of chrysin using oil-in-water nanoemulsion could enhance the bioaccessibility of chrysin, which might be subsequently applied to food and nutraceutical industries.

Protein expression profiles that underpin the preventive and therapeutic potential of Moringa oleifera Lam against azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate-induced mouse colon carcinogenesis.

Previous studies in a mouse model have indicated the anticancer potential of boiled Moringa oleifera pod (bMO)-supplemented diets; however, its molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the protein expression profiles responsible for the suppressive effect of bMO supplementation on azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced mouse colon carcinogenesis. Analysis by gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrophotometry demonstrated that there were 125 proteins that were differentially expressed in mouse colon tissues between 14 experimental groups of mice. The differentially expressed proteins are involved in various biological processes, such as signal transduction, metabolism, transcription and translation. Venn diagram analysis of the differentially expressed proteins was performed in six selected mouse groups, including negative control, positive control mice induced by AOM/DSS, the AOM/DSS groups receiving preventive or therapeutic bMO diets and their bMO-supplemented control groups. This analysis identified 7 proteins; 60S acidic ribosomal protein P1 (Rplp1), fragile X mental retardation, cystatin 9, round spermatids protein, zinc finger protein 638, protein phosphatase 2C (Ppm1g) and unnamed protein product as being potentially associated with the preventive and therapeutic effects of bMO in AOM/DSS-induced mouse colon cancer. Analysis based on the search tool for interactions of chemicals (STITCH) database predicted that Rplp1 interacted with the apoptotic and inflammatory pathways, whereas Ppm1g was associated only with inflammatory networks. This proteomic analysis revealed candidate proteins that are responsible for the effects of bMO supplementation, potentially by regulating apoptotic and inflammatory signaling networks in colorectal cancer prevention and therapy.

Brown rice and retrograded brown rice alleviate inflammatory response in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mice.

The present study was aimed to investigate the impacts of brown rice (BR) and retrograded brown rice (R-BR) consumption on colonic health and gut microbiota in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induced colitis mice. Thirty two female C57Bl/6Mlac mice were fed with modified AIN 93G diets by replacing cornstarch in the original composition with white rice (WR), BR and R-BR powder. The mice were divided into 4 groups and fed with the following experimental diets for 4 weeks: (1) negative control (WR: diet with WR), (2) positive control (DSS_WR: DSS and diet with WR), (3) DSS_BR: DSS and diet with BR, and (4) DSS_R-BR: DSS and diet with R-BR. BR and R-BR had a greater content of fat, dietary fiber, GABA, γ-oryzanol, γ-tocotrienol, ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid than WR (p < 0.05). No significant difference in the level of these bioactive compounds was noted between BR and R-BR. Nevertheless, R-BR had a 1.8 fold resistant starch (RS) content of BR (p < 0.05). The DSS_BR and DSS_R-BR groups showed a lower ratio of colonic weight to length, and a lower content of iNOS, COX-2, MPO, IL-6 and INF-γ in colonic homogenates than the DSS_WR group. However, the DSS treated mice fed with the R-BR diet had significantly milder histopathological inflammatory injury and lower colonic iNOS expression than the DSS_BR and DSS_WR groups. The percentage of mesenteric regulatory T cells significantly increased in the DSS_R-BR group compared to that in the DSS_WR group. The DSS treated mice fed with the R-BR diet showed a significant increase in cecal bacterial diversity and abundance of genera Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Dorea, Coprococcus and Dehalobacterium but a significant decrease in pathogenic bacteria including Bacteroides and Enterococcus compared to the DSS_WR group. Thus, the present data indicate that BR and R-BR ameliorate colonic inflammation in experimental colitis induced by DSS in mice by suppressing inflammatory mediators and modulating regulatory T cell responses as well as bacterial diversity in the cecum.

Partial Substitution of Glucose with Xylitol Suppressed the Glycolysis and Selectively Inhibited the Proliferation of Oral Cancer Cells.

Suitable diet for cancer survivors remains an unresolved challenge. Increased glucose utilization is a hallmark of various cancers. Therefore, alternative carbohydrate supplying normal tissue but retarding cancer growth is needed. This study investigated the effect of sugar alcohols on the proliferation of oral cancer cells compared to nontransformed cells and explored the mechanism. Six oral squamous cell carcinoma (CAL-27, FaDu, SCC4, SCC9, SCC15, and SCC25) and one nontransformed oral keratinocyte (OKF6/TERT2) lines were cultured in media containing 1 mg/ml glucose and 5.8 mg/ml xylitol or sorbitol, yielding equal energy input to control group (4.5 mg/ml glucose). Partial substitution of glucose with sugar alcohols especially xylitol significantly suppressed proliferation of oral cancer but not nontransformed cells. Despite the addition of isocaloric quantities of the sugars, cancer cells exposed to low glucose plus xylitol had retarded ATP generation and decreased activity of phosphofructokinase (PFK), the rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis. Furthermore, D-xylulose, its key metabolic intermediate, enhanced the anticancer effect of xylitol. These findings suggested a selective anticancer activity of xylitol and the potential mechanism involving inhibition of glucose utilization. Partial substitution of glucose with xylitol may be a proper nutrient for oral cancer survivors, deserving further investigation in animal and clinical settings.

Chemopreventive Effects of Eryngium foetidum L. Leaves on COX-2 Reduction in Mice Induced Colorectal Carcinogenesis.

To investigate the potential effects of Eryngium foetidum Linn. leaves (EF) in colitis-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in mice by azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), 39 ICR male mice were studied and divided into 6 groups. The mice were received a modified AIN-76 diet in Group 1, whereas Group 2 was given an AOM, DSS, and AIN-76 diet. Groups 3 and 4 were fed with 0.8% and 3.2% freeze-dried EF with AIN-76 diets, for 5 wk. Groups 5 and 6 were fed with 0.8% and 3.2% EF diets for 5 wk during AOM/DSS administration. The mice were necropsied at Week 20 and their colons were collected. The results indicated that the incidences of tumors in Groups 2, 5, and 6 was 100%, 75%, and 88%, with multiplicities (mean ±SE) of 3.75 ±0.92, 2.38 ± 0.96 and 4.25 ± 0.79, respectively. Interestingly, there was a significant difference in COX-2 expression in mice received 3.2% EF in their diet, but the proliferative cell nuclear antigen index and iNOS protein expression were not significantly different. We concluded that EF at a dose level of 3.2% in their diet had a preventive effect on colorectal carcinogenesis via the proinflammatory cytokine, COX-2.

Anticlastogenic effect of Eryngium foetidum L. assessed by erythrocyte micronucleus assay.

The aim of this study was to investigate the anticlastogenicity as well as the clastogenicity of Eryngium foetidum leaf (EF) using the in vivo mouse peripheral blood erythrocyte micronucleus assay. Eighty ICR male mice were fed AIN-76 diet supplemented with ground freeze-dried EF at 0.0%, 0.8%, 1.6% and 3.2% for 2 weeks prior to the administration of both direct-acting, mitomycin C (MMC), and indirect-acting, 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA) clastogens. Peripheral blood samples were collected from mice just before administration of clastogen and at 24 and 48 h thereafter for MMC. Blood samples were collected at the same times and after 72 h for DMBA. Then, reticulocytes in blood samples were counted using fluorescent microscopy. The results indicated that EF had no clastogenic effect in mice. All doses of diets supplemented with EF decreased the number of micronucleated peripheral reticulocytes in all the MMC-treated groups in a dose dependent manner, but significant reduction was found only at 1.6% and 3.2% EF in the DMBA-treated groups. It can be concluded that EF has no clastogenicity, but possesses anticlastogenic potential against both direct- and indirect-acting types of clastogen in mice.

Eryngium foetidum suppresses inflammatory mediators produced by macrophages.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of E. foetidum leaf extract on LPS-activated murine macrophages. METHODS: RAW264.7 cells were pretreated with or without E. foetidum extract for 1 h prior to incubation with LPS for 24 h. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated with reference to iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α and IL-6 gene expression. In addition, NO and intracellular ROS generation were determined by Griess method and fluorescence intensity and activation of MAPKs and IκB by Western blotting. RESULTS: Prior treatment with E. foetidum leaf extract inhibited elevation of IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS and COX-2, together with their cognate mRNAs in a dose-dependent manner. NO and intracellular ROS contents were similarly reduced. These effects were due to inhibition of LPS-induced phosphorylation of JNK and p38 as well as IκB. E. foetidum ethanol extract was shown to contain lutein, ß-carotenes, chlorogenic acid, kaempferol and caffeic acid, compounds known to exert these bioactive properties. CONCLUSIONS: E. foetidum leaf extract possesses suppressive effects against pro-inflammatory mediators. Thus, E. foetidum has a high potential to be used as a food supplement to reduce risk of cancer associated with inflammation.

Moringa oleifera pod inhibits inflammatory mediator production by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell lines.

Pro-inflammatory mediators produced during inflammatory response have been demonstrated to initiate and aggravate pathological development of several chronic diseases. Plant bioactive constituents have been reported to exert anti-inflammatory activities. Various parts of Moringa oleifera have long been used as habitual diets and traditional remedy along the tropical region. Anti-inflammatory activity of boiled M. oleifera pod extract was assessed by measuring pro-inflammatory mediator expression in the lipopolysaccharide-induced murine RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Prior treatment with 31-250 µg/mL M. oleifera extract for 1 h inhibited elevation of mRNA and protein level of interleukine-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenease-2, induced by lipopolysaccharide for 24 h in a dose-dependent manner. The suppressive effect was mediated partly by inhibiting phosphorylation of inhibitor kappa B protein and mitogen-activated protein kinases. These results indicate that the anti-inflammatory activity from bioactive compounds present in the M. oleifera pod constituents may contribute to ameliorate the pathogenesis of inflammatory-associated chronic diseases.

Anti-inflammatory activities of red curry paste extract on lipopolysaccharide-activated murine macrophage cell line.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of an ethanol extract from Thai red curry paste. METHODS: The RAW264.7 murine macrophage cell line was incubated with the extract (65-260 µg/mL) with or without lipopolysaccharide. The anti-inflammatory activities of the extract were examined by measuring inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclo-oxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 mRNA and protein level by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Nitric oxide production and intracellular reactive oxygen species generation were determined by the Griess method and fluorescence intensity. The activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and inhibitor κB were determined by western blot. RESULTS: Exposure of cells with the extract significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclo-oxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 expressions (P < 0.05) by dose-dependently without cytotoxic effect. Intracellular reactive oxygen species significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells. The inhibitory effect was mediated partly by inhibiting activation of inhibitor κB-α and mitogen-activated protein kinases. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Thai red curry paste stem from bioactive compounds present in the spice and herb constituents. The health benefits of Thai red curry paste warrant further investigations in vivo.

Suppressive effects of Moringa oleifera Lam pod against mouse colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate.

Moringa oleifera Lam (horseradish tree; tender pod or fruits) is a major ingredient in Thai cuisine and has some medicinal properties. Previous studies have shown potentially antioxidant, antitumor promoter, anticlastogen and anticarcinogen activities both in vitro and in vivo. The present study was conducted to investigate chemopreventive effects on azoxymethane (AOM)-initiated and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-promoted colon carcinogenesis in mice. Male ICR mice were divided into 8 groups: Group 1 served as a negative control; Group 2 received AOM/DSS as a positive control; Groups 3-5 were fed boiled freeze-dried M. oleifera (bMO) at 1.5%, 3.0% and 6.0%, respectively supplemented in basal diets for 5 weeks; Groups 6-8 were fed with bMO diets at the designed doses above for 2 weeks prior to AOM, during and 1 week after DSS administration. At the end of the study, colon samples were processed for histopathological examination. PCNA indices, and iNOS and COX-2 expression were assessed by immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrated the incidences and multiplicities of tumors in Groups 6-8 to be decreased when compared to Group 2 in a dose dependent manner, but this was significant only in Group 8. The PCNA index was also significantly decreased in Group 8 whereas iNOS and COX-2 protein expression were significantly decreased in Groups 7 and 8. The findings suggest that M. oleifera Lam pod exerts suppressive effects in a colitis-related colon carcinogenesis model induced by AOM/DSS and could serve as a chemopreventive agent.

Nutritive evaluation and effect of Moringa oleifera pod on clastogenic potential in the mouse.

Moringa oleifera Lam (horseradish tree; tender pod or fruits) has been consumed as a vegetable and utilized as a major ingredient of healthy Thai cuisine. Previous studies have shown that M. oleifera pod extracts act as bifunctional inducers along with displaying antioxidant properties and also inhibiting skin papillomagenesis in mice. This study was aimed to determine the nutritive value, and clastogenic and anticlastogenic potentials of M. oleifera pod. The nutritive value was determined according to AOAC methods. The clastogenic and anticlastogenic potentials were determined using the in vivo erythrocyte micronucleus assay in the mouse. Eighty male mice were fed semi-purified diets containing 1.5%, 3.0% and 6.0% of ground freeze-dried boiled M. oleifera pod (bMO) for 2 weeks prior to administration of both direct-acting (mitomycin C, MMC) and indirect-acting (7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, DMBA), clastogens. Blood samples were collected at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h, dropped on acridine orange-coated slides, and then counted for reticulocytes both with and without micronuclei by fluorescence microscopy. The nutritive value of 100 g bMO consisted of: moisture content, 8.2 g; protein, 19.2 g; fat, 3.9 g; carbohydrate (dietary fiber included), 60.5 g; dietary fiber, 37.5 g; ash, 8.1 g and energy, 354 kcal. Freeze-dried boiled M. oleifera had no clastogenic activity in the mouse while it possessed anticlastogenic activity against both direct and indirect-acting clastogens. Freeze-dried boiled M. oleifera pod at 1.5%, 3.0% and 6.0% in the diets decreased the number of micronucleated peripheral reticulocytes (MNRETs) induced by both MMC and DMBA. However, the effect was statistically significant in the dose dependent manner only in the MMC-treated group. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that bMO has no clastogenicity and possesses anticlastogenic potential against clastogens, and particularly a direct-acting clastogen in the mouse.

Inhibitory effects of spices and herbs on iron availability.

Spices and herbs are extensively used in indigenous diets in tropical regions where prevalence of iron deficiency is still high. They are rich in polyphenolic compounds that are expected to inhibit iron absorption by forming iron complexes in the intestine, making dietary iron less available for absorption. The effects of six spices and herbs (chili pepper, garlic, 'Pak kyheng' (Thai leafy vegetable), shallot, tamarind, turmeric) and one mixture of spices (curry paste) on iron availability were determined by measuring the percentage dialyzable iron after addition of spices and herbs to a rice meal after simulated digestion. All tested spices and herbs contained from 0.5 to 33 mg polyphenol per meal and were potent inhibitors of iron availability (20-90%), reducing iron availability in a dose-dependent manner--with the exception of tamarind, which at 11 mg polyphenol per meal enhanced iron availability. Our findings demonstrate that culinary spices and herbs can play an important role in iron nutrition.

Anti-inflammatory activities of extracts of Thai spices and herbs with lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages.

Nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) play important roles in inflammatory processes. This study examined whether 13 spices/herbs commonly used in Thai dishes modulate the production of NO and TNF-alpha by the RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cell line pretreated with plant extracts (1-100 microg/mL) prior to activation by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Tested plant tissues were extracted with ethanol with the exception of roselle, which was extracted with 70% acetone. Eight of the 13 plant extracts inhibited NO and TNF-alpha production in a dose-dependent manner without exerting cytotoxicity. Extract from Limnophila aromatica (Kyeng) was the most robust suppressor of NO production, followed by dill, kaffer lime, chili, Teaw, mint, sweet basil, and pea eggplant, respectively (range of 50% inhibitory concentration [IC(50)] = 11.4-74.6 microg/mL). Kyeng also exhibited the greatest inhibition of TNF-alpha production (IC(50) = 10.5 microg/mL). IC(50) values for NO and TNF-alpha production in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells for these extracts were highly correlated (r = 0.772, P = .025). These results suggest that extracts from some spices/herbs in the habitual Thai diet possess anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, the results support the use of NO production in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells as a rapid and cost-effective tool for screening the anti-inflammatory activity of extracts of spices/herbs.

Chili, but not turmeric, inhibits iron absorption in young women from an iron-fortified composite meal.

Chili and turmeric are common spices in indigenous diets in tropical regions. Being rich in phenolic compounds, they would be expected to bind iron (Fe)(3) in the intestine and inhibit Fe absorption in humans. Three experiments were conducted in healthy young women (n = 10/study) to assess the effect of chili and turmeric on Fe absorption from a rice-based meal containing vegetables and iron fortified fish sauce in vivo. Iron absorption was determined by erythrocyte incorporation of stable isotope labels ((57)Fe/(58)Fe) using a randomized crossover design. Addition of freeze-dried chili (4.2 g dry powder, 25 mg polyphenols as gallic acid equivalents) reduced Fe absorption from the meal by 38% (6.0% with chili vs. 9.7% without chili, P = 0.0017). Turmeric (0.5 g dry powder, 50 mg polyphenols as gallic acid equivalents) did not inhibit iron absorption (P = 0.91). A possible effect of chili on gastric acid secretion was indirectly assessed by comparing Fe absorption from acid soluble [(57)Fe]-ferric pyrophosphate relative to water soluble [(58)Fe]-ferrous sulfate from the same meal in the presence and absence of chili. Chili did not enhance gastric acid secretion. Relative Fe bioavailability of ferric pyrophosphate was 5.4% in presence of chili and 6.4% in absence of chili (P = 0.47). Despite the much higher amount of phenolics in the turmeric meal, it did not affect iron absorption. We conclude that both phenol quality and quantity determine the inhibitory effect of phenolic compounds on iron absorption.