Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in vitro activities of phenolic compounds from tropical highland blackberry (Rubus adenotrichos)

J Agric Food Chem. 2013 Jun 19;61(24):5798-804. doi: 10.1021/jf400781m. Epub 2013 Jun 10.

Abstract

This study evaluates the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in a polyphenol extract from blackberries. The antioxidant activity measured via oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) was higher for the blackberry extract (4339 ± 144 μM TE/g) than for quercetin and ellagic acid. The blackberry phenolic compounds protected liposomes and liver homogenates against lipid peroxidation; in both models, the antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 7.0 ± 0.5 and 20.3 ± 4.2 μg/mL, respectively) was greater than that found with Trolox. The extract inhibited superoxide production by NADPH oxidase in THP-1 cells and nitrite production in J774A.1 cells stimulated with LPS+IFNγ, with nitrite production decreasing after 4 h of incubation with the extract, mainly through a strong scavenging activity. However, 24 h of treatment reduced the amount of nitrites (IC₅₀ = 45.6 ± 1.2 μg/mL) because of a down-regulation of iNOS protein expression, as demonstrated by Western blotting. The inhibitory activities found in blackberry phenols suggest a potential beneficial effect against oxidative stress and inflammatory processes.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / analysis
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / chemistry*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / isolation & purification
  • Antioxidants / analysis
  • Antioxidants / chemistry*
  • Antioxidants / isolation & purification
  • Cell Line
  • Costa Rica
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Fruit / growth & development
  • Humans
  • Lipid Peroxidation
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Phenols / analysis
  • Phenols / chemistry*
  • Phenols / isolation & purification
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Rosaceae / chemistry*
  • Rosaceae / growth & development
  • Tropical Climate

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Antioxidants
  • Phenols
  • Plant Extracts