Edible O. fragrans flower ameliorates LPS-induced inflammatory responses through suppressing NF-?B and AP-1 pathways

Osmanthus fragrans (Thunb.) Lour. is one of the most common edible plants in China. Its flower (O. fragrans flower) is widely utilized as a food ingredient and traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years. In lipo-polysaccharide (LPS)-activated macrophages, OFE suppressed the pro-inflammatory mediators (iNOS, MCP-1, IL -6 and IL-1 beta) at the transcriptional and translational levels, showing a potent anti-inflammatory effect. Mecha-nism study indicated that, OFE inhibited I kappa B alpha phosphorylation and prevented the nuclear translocation of p65, thereby inactivating nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) signaling. Concurrently, OFE also suppressed AP-1 signaling through inhibiting the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 MAPK. In endotoxemia mice, a single intraperitoneal administration of OFE significantly decreased serum IL-6 and MCP-1 levels. Our study demonstrates that O. fragrans flower may be the beneficial food for inflammatory diseases.

Automated summary

Osmanthus fragrans flower, a common edible plant in China, has been used as a food ingredient and traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Research has shown that its extract has anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and inhibiting the activation of NF-kappa B and AP-1 signaling pathways.