Fucoxanthin inhibits the inflammatory response by suppressing the activation of NF-κB and MAPKs in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264 7 macrophages

It has been previously determined that pro-inflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO) prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL 6 contribute to the courses of a variety of inflammatory diseases In this study we evaluated the anti inflammatory effects of fucoxanthin (FX) a natural biologically active substance isolated from Ishtge okamurae by determining its inhibitory effects on pro-inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264 7 cells FX induced dose-dependent reductions in the levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX 2) proteins and concomitant reductions in the production of NO and PGE(2) Additionally FX was shown to suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines including IL-1 beta TNF-alpha and IL-6 Furthermore FX inhibited the cytoplasmic degradation of inhibitors of B (I kappa B) alpha and the nuclear translocation of p50 and p65 proteins resulting in lower levels of nuclear factor (NF) kappa B transactivation Additionally FX was shown to induce a dose-dependent inhibition of the phosphorylation of mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs JNK ERK and p38) Collectively the results of this study demonstrate that FX reduces the levels of pro inflammatory mediators including NO PGE(2) IL 1 beta TNF-alpha and IL-6 via the inhibition of NF kappa B activation and the suppression of MAPK phosphorylation in RAW 264 7 cells These findings reveal in part the molecular basis underlying the anti-inflammatory properties of FX (C) 2010 Elsevier BV All rights reserved