Effect of Fimbristylis ovata on receptor for advanced glycation end-products, proinflammatory cytokines, and cell adhesion molecule level and gene expression in U937 and bEnd.3 cell lines

Fimbristylis ovata has been long used as a traditional medicine for chronic inflammatory diseases; however, there are no data regarding its anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of F. ovata extracts on the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, cell adhesion molecule, and receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cells. F. ovata was extracted using the maceration method with 3 different solvents: ethanol, methanol, and water. The effect of F. ovata extracts on cell viability was evaluated using the MTT assay. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecules were investigated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Upon incubation with F. ovata extracts up to 100 mg/mL, cell viability was more than 80%. F. ovata extracts could inhibit interleukin-6 level and gene expression as well as the RAGE gene in the monocytic cell lineU937. Moreover, the results showed that vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 secretion and gene expression were decreased when lipopolysaccharide-activated brain endothelial cells (bEnd.3) were treated with F. ovata extracts. Therefore, the anti-inflammatory activity of F. ovata extracts may result from their inhibitory actions via the RAGE signaling pathway.