Inhibitory effects of wild blueberry anthocyanins and other flavonoids on biomarkers of acute and chronic inflammation in vitro

J Agric Food Chem. 2014 Jul 23;62(29):7022-8. doi: 10.1021/jf4051599. Epub 2014 Jan 17.

Abstract

Wild lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait) are a rich source of anthocyanins and other flavonoids with anti-inflammatory activities; however, their individual effects on cellular signaling remain to be elucidated. This study determined the capacity of blueberry bioactives to protect murine RAW 264.7 macrophages from lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation. Fractionation of the crude extract (CE) into polyphenol-rich (PPR), anthocyanin-rich (ANC), and proanthocyanidin-rich (PAC) fractions and an ethyl acetate fraction (EA) revealed that PPR, ANC, and PAC components most effectively suppressed mRNA biomarkers of acute inflammation (Cox-2, iNOS, and IL-1β). Among major polyphenols found in the wild blueberries, malvidin-3-glucoside was significantly more effective than epicatechin or chlorogenic acid in reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory genes in vitro.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Animals
  • Anthocyanins / pharmacology*
  • Base Sequence
  • Biomarkers / metabolism*
  • Blueberry Plants / chemistry*
  • Cell Line
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chronic Disease
  • DNA Primers
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Inflammation / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Anthocyanins
  • Biomarkers
  • DNA Primers