Anti-inflammatory effect of polyphenols from Chilean currants (Ribes magellanicum and R. punctatum) after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on Caco-2 cells Anti-inflammatory activity of in vitro digested Chilean currants

The polyphenol-enriched extracts (PEEs) of Chilean currants Ribes magellanicum and R. punctatum were submitted to in vitro gastro-intestinal digestion and their anti-inflammatory activities were assessed using differentiated human Caco-2 (clone C2BBe1) cells stimulated with interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta). The inhibitory effect of non digested and digested PEEs towards human cyclooxygenase 1 (COX-1) and COX-2, and the gene expression of COX-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was also evaluated. The digested PEE from R. punctatum decreased the secretion of IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-alpha; whereas R. magellanicum reduced IL-6 and TNF-a in the Caco-2 cells (p < 0.05). Both digested extracts significantly down-regulated the mRNA expression of COX-2 and iNOS (p < 0.05). PEEs showed 60% of inhibition towards COXs, with higher inhibition against COX-2. The PEEs from R. punctatum displayed better anti-inflammatory activity in all the experiments. Our results suggest that R. magellanicum and R. punctatum might be useful against intestine inflammatory conditions.