Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Hyperoside Through the Suppression of Nuclear Factor-kappa B Activation in Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages

Hyperoside (quercetin-3-O-galactoside) is a flavonoid compound mainly found in the herb plants Hypericum perforatum L and Crataegus pinnatifida. Although hyperoside has a variety of pharmacological effects including anti-viral, anti-oxidative, and anti-apoptotic activities, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of hyperoside in mouse peritoneal macrophages remains unclear. In this study, hyperoside was shown to exert an anti-inflammatory action through suppressed production of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, and nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. The maximal inhibition rate of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and nitric oxide production by 5 mu M hyperoside was 32.31 +/- 2.8%, 41.31 +/- 3.1%, and 30.31 +/- 4.1%, respectively. In addition, hyperoside inhibited nuclear factor-kappa B activation and I kappa B-alpha degradation. The present study suggests that an important molecular mechanism by hyperoside reduces inflammation, which might explain its beneficial effect in the regulation of inflammatory reactions.