Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of <i>Lindera glauca</i> Extracts

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The current study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extracts from <i>Lindera glauca</i> twig (LGT) and leaf/stem (LGLS). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The antioxidant activities were measured by total content of polyphenol and flavonoid, DPPH radical scavenging, and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging activity. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect in the LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, protein and mRNA expression of major inflammatory factors were analyzed using Western blot analysis and RT-PCR. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The total polyphenol content of LGT and LGLS was 88.45 ± 11.74 and 115.75 ± 7.87 GA mg/g, respectively. The total flavonoid content was 66 ± 2.89 and 74.33 ± 2.89 QE mg/g. Both LGT and LGLS showed high DPPH and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging activities. Neither LGT nor LGLS was cytotoxic to RAW 264.7 cells. The anti-inflammatory activities were measured by LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. LGT and LGLS showed inhibition of the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 at the protein and mRNA levels, as determined by Western blotting and RT-PCR, respectively. In addition, the release of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 mRNA expression levels of these cytokines was reduced by LGT and LGLS. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> These results suggest that LGT and LGLS extracts have potential for use as a functional antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredient in cosmetic industry.