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

PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e59131. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059131. Epub 2013 Mar 8.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bees*
  • Cell Line
  • Citrulline / metabolism
  • Complex Mixtures / chemistry
  • Complex Mixtures / pharmacology*
  • Cyclooxygenase 2 / metabolism*
  • Echium / chemistry*
  • Free Radical Scavengers / chemistry
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology*
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism*
  • Pollen / chemistry*
  • Superoxides / metabolism

Substances

  • Complex Mixtures
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Superoxides
  • Citrulline
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Nos2 protein, mouse
  • Ptgs2 protein, mouse
  • Cyclooxygenase 2

Grants and funding

The authors thank Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) for grant PEst-C/EQB/LA0006/2011. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.