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Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Apigenin on LPS-Induced Pro-Inflammatory Mediators and AP-1 Factors in Human Lung Epithelial Cells

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Abstract

Apigenin is one of the plant flavonoids present in fruits and vegetables, acting as an important nutraceutical component. It is recognized as a potential antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory molecule. In the present study, the mechanism of anti-inflammatory action of apigenin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and activator protein-1 (AP-1) factors in human lung A549 cells was investigated. The anti‐inflammatory activity of apigenin on LPS-induced inflammation was determined by analyzing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and different AP-1 factors. Apigenin significantly inhibited the LPS-induced expression of iNOS, COX-2, expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α), and AP-1 proteins (c-Jun, c-Fos, and JunB) including nitric oxide production. Study confirms the anti-inflammatory effect of apigenin by inhibiting the expression of inflammatory mediators and AP-1 factors involved in the inflammation and its importance in the treatment of lung inflammatory diseases.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the University Grant Commission-Centre with Potential for Excellence in Particular Area (UGC-CPEPA) [8-2/2008(NS/PE)] and the Department of Science and Technology-Promotion of University Research and Scientific Excellence (DST-PURSE), New Delhi (SR/59/Z-23/2010/38 (c)), for providing financial support. The authors also wish to thank the University Grant Commission- Basic Scientific Research (UGC-BSR), New Delhi, for providing fellowship to RHP and the Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Bangalore University, Bengaluru, for providing the facility.

Conflict of Interest

Authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Bangalore University, Jnana Bharathi, Bengaluru, 560 056, Karnataka, India

    Rajeshwari H. Patil, R. L. Babu, M. Naveen Kumar, K. M. Kiran Kumar, Shubha M. Hegde, Rashmi Nagesh & S. Chidananda Sharma

  2. Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Karnataka State Women’s University, Jnanashakthi Campus, Vijayapura, 586 108, Karnataka, India

    R. L. Babu

  3. Department of Biology and Center for Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, USA

    Govindarajan T. Ramesh

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  1. Rajeshwari H. Patil
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Patil, R.H., Babu, R.L., Naveen Kumar, M. et al. Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Apigenin on LPS-Induced Pro-Inflammatory Mediators and AP-1 Factors in Human Lung Epithelial Cells. Inflammation 39, 138–147 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-015-0232-z

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