Indicaxanthin from cactus pear fruit exerts anti-inflammatory effects in carrageenin-induced rat pleurisy.

Nutritional research has shifted recently from alleviating nutrient deficiencies to chronic disease prevention. We investigated the activity of indicaxanthin, a bioavailable phytochemical of the betalain class from the edible fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica (L. Miller) in a rat model of acute inflammation. Rat pleurisy was achieved by injection of 0.2 mL of λ-carrageenin in the pleural cavity, and rats were killed 4, 24, and 48 h later; exudates were collected to analyze inflammatory parameters, such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); cells recruited in pleura were analyzed for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) activation. Indicaxanthin (0.5, 1, or 2 µmol/kg), given orally before carrageenin, time- and dose-dependently, reduced the exudate volume (up to 70%) and the number of leukocytes recruited in the pleural cavity (up to 95%) at 24 h. Pretreatment with indicaxanthin at 2 µmol/kg inhibited the carrageenin-induced release of PGE(2) (91.4%), NO (67.7%), IL-1ß (53.6%), and TNF-α (71.1%), and caused a decrease of IL-1ß (34.5%), TNF-α (81.6%), iNOS (75.2%), and COX2 (87.7%) mRNA, as well as iNOS (71.9%) and COX-2 (65.9%) protein expression, in the recruited leukocytes. Indicaxanthin inhibited time- and dose- dependently the activation of NF-κB, a key transcription factor in the whole inflammatory cascade. A pharmacokinetic study with a single 2 µmol/kg oral administration showed a maximum 0.22 ± 0.02 µmol/L (n = 15) plasma concentration of indicaxanthin, with a half-life of 1.15 ± 0.11 h. When considering the high bioavailability of indicaxanthin in humans, our findings suggest that this dietary pigment has the potential to improve health and prevent inflammation-based disorders.

Anti-inflammatory action of a phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-enriched diet in carrageenan-induced pleurisy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Phosphatidylcholine (PC)-derived choline exhibits anti-inflammatory properties in stress conditions. Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and N-acylphosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs) are endogenous bioactive phospholipids linked to the PC and endocannabinoid metabolisms. We hypothesized that an increased dietary input of PC, PE and NAPE may interfere with leukocyte reactions and thus decreases the inflammatory activation. METHODS: CFLP mice were fed with a control diet or with a diet supplemented with 1% PC, 0.4% PE and 0.1% NAPE for 7 days before the induction of pleurisy with carrageenan. Pleural leukocyte migration, pulmonary mast cell degranulation (Alcian blue-safranin O staining), and the activities of inducible nitric oxide synthase, xanthine oxidoreductase and myeloperoxidase were determined in lung tissue biopsies. RESULTS: The carrageenan-induced inflammatory response was characterized by pulmonary leukocyte infiltration, mast cell degranulation and significantly increased inducible nitric oxide synthase and xanthine oxidoreductase activities (by 82 and 60%, respectively). Treatment of mice with acetylsalicylic acid or with dietary PC + PE + NAPE supplementation significantly decreased the leukocyte reaction, and suppressed the activity of the pulmonary proinflammatory enzymes. CONCLUSION: This study confirms a potential for dietary PC + PE + NAPE supplementation to influence events crucial for the remission of acute inflammation. PC + PE + NAPE administration could possibly be a novel preventive or pharmacotherapeutic option in inflammatory pathologies.