Anti-inflammatory effects of glyceollins derived from soybean by elicitation with Aspergillus sojae

Objective Given the preventive effect of soy intake against several chronic diseases, this study was conducted to investigate the inhibitory activity against inflammatory response of phytoalexins glyceollins derived from soybean isoflavones by treatment with a biotic elicitor. Methods Using RAW264.7 cells, we examined the effects of glyceollins on production of nitric oxide (NO) and inflammatory cytokines, expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2, and activation of NF-kappa B, induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results Our data showed that glyceollins effectively inhibited NO production, IL-6 release, and expression of iNOS and COX-2 induced by LPS. In particular, glyceollins suppressed the LPS-induced phosphorylation of NF-kappa B p65, suggesting that the compounds inhibit the production of NO and transcriptional activation of COX-2 by regulating NF-kappa B activity. In another experiment we found that glyceollins enhanced the expression of heme oxygenase 1 in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Glyceollins also reduced TPA-induced skin inflammation in a mouse model, confirming the anti-inflammatory activity of glyceollins in an in-vivo system as well as in a cell culture system. Conclusion Glyceollins exert an anti-inflammatory effect, which is mediated through the inhibition of NF-kappa B activation in LPS-activated murine RAW264.7 cells. Glyceollins merit further study as potential therapeutic agents for inflammatory disorders.