Onion (Allium cepa L.)-Derived Nanoparticles Inhibited LPS-Induced Nitrate Production, However, Their Intracellular Incorporation by Endocytosis Was Not Involved in This Effect on RAW264 Cells.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of nanoparticles prepared from Allium cepa L. as anti-inflammatory agents. In the present study, we identified nanoparticles from Allium cepa L. using the ultracentrifugation exosome purification method. The nanoparticles were referred to as 17,000× g and 200,000× g precipitates, and they contained quercetins, proteins, lipids, and small-sized RNA. The nanoparticles inhibited nitric oxide production from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264 cells without cytotoxic properties. Cellular incorporation was confirmed by laser microscopic observation after PKH26 staining. The inhibition of caveolae-dependent endocytosis and macropinocytosis significantly prevented the incorporation of the nanoparticles but had no effect on the inhibition of nitric oxide in RAW264 cells. Collectively, the identified nanoparticles were capable of inhibiting the LPS response via extracellular mechanisms. Taken together, the way of consuming Allium cepa L. without collapsing the nanoparticles is expected to provide an efficient anti-inflammatory effect.

Inhibitory Effects of the C-2 Epimeric Isomers of Tea Catechins on Mouse Type IV Allergy.

The inhibitory effects of C-2 epimeric isomers of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) and two O-methylated EGCG derivatives, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate (EGCG3''Me) and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate (EGCG4''Me), against oxazolone-induced type IV allergy in male mice were investigated. These compounds exhibited strong antiallergic effects by percutaneous administration at a dose of 0.13 mg/ear. The inhibition rates of (-)-gallocatechin-3-O-gallate (GCG), (-)-gallocatechin-3-O-(3-O-methyl)gallate (GCG3''Me), and (-)-gallocatechin-3-O-(4-O-methyl)gallate (GCG4''Me) on mouse type IV allergy were 52.1, 53.3, and 54.8%, respectively. However, the antiallergic effects were weaker than those of their corresponding original tea catechins (2R,3R type). The inhibition rates of those were 88.0, 73.2, and 77.6%, respectively. For all of the catechins tested, oral administration at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight significantly suppressed the allergic symptoms. The inhibitory rates varied from 24.0 to 60.6%. No significant differences were observed between the effects of the epimers (2S,3R type) and their corresponding original catechins (2R,3R type). The antiallergic effects of tea catechins and their C-2 epimers observed in this study were dose-dependent. These results suggest that C-2 epimers of tea catechins, which are produced during heat processing at high temperatures, could be disadvantageous for the antiallergic effects on type IV allergy.