J Nutr Health.  2024 Dec;57(6):619-629. 10.4163/jnh.2024.57.6.619.

Comparison of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in RAW264.7 Macrophages of Cuscuta australis R. Brown extracts prepared using different extraction methods

• Heo YJ
• Lyu SY
• Lee M
• Lee HI

• KMID: 2564169
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/jnh.2024.57.6.619

Abstract

Purpose
Cuscuta australis R. Brown (CA) is a parasitic plant that attaches to host plants and disrupts the growth, nutrient absorption, and overall development of leguminous plants. However, CA is known to contain various bioactive components, including vitamin A, β-carotene, lutein, and kaempferol, which have demonstrated pharmacological effects in immune responses. This study aims to investigate the potential benefits of CA extracts obtained using different extraction methods to explore its potential as a novel natural resource for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Methods
In this study, water (CAW), ethanol (CAE), and hot water (CAHW) extracts of CA were prepared to investigate their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in RAW264.7 cells.
Results
The CAHW group exhibited the highest levels of antioxidant compounds, such as total polyphenols and flavonoids, resulting in a significantly higher ferric reducing antioxidant power compared to the other groups. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylen-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonate radical scavenging activities were also high in the CAHW and CAE groups but were lower compared to the positive control, ascorbic acid. In RAW264.7 cells, CA extracts at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL showed no cytotoxicity, and nitric oxide (NO) production was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. At a concentration of 200 μg/mL, all the CA extracts exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity by modulating the nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway, effectively resulting in the down-regulation of inflammation-related genes such as cyclooxygenase-2, inducible NO synthase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 in RAW264.7 cells, with the CAHW extract demonstrating the most potent inhibitory effect among all the CA extract groups.
Conclusion
Overall, CA extraction is effective for both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, with the hot water extraction method proving to be the most effective.

Keyword

Cuscuta; inflammation; antioxidant; macrophages; cytokines