Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Velvet Bean (Mucuna pruriens) Substances in LPS−Stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophages

Abstract

In this study, Mucuna pruriens extracts were used to verify their application as a natural-based raw material with anti-inflammatory function. A nitric oxide inhibition activity assay showed that M. pruriens extracted with hot water (MW), M. pruriens extracted with 70% ethanol (ME), and M. pruriens extracted with 70% acetone (MA) presented NO inhibition activity; among them, MW and ME demonstrated the best activity and were selected for Western blot analysis. After identifying the expression patterns of inflammation-related proteins, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell (NF-κB), through Western blots, both MW and ME showed inhibition patterns. As a result of analyzing L-DOPA contained in M. pruriens through ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), high L-DOPA content was detected in MW, ME, and MA. Therefore, it can be concluded that M. pruriens extracts have the potential for use as an anti-inflammatory material.