title: Flavonoids from Theobroma cacao down-regulate inflammatory mediators.
abstract: In the present study, we report the effects of a cocoa extract on the secretion and RNA expression of various proinflammatory mediators by macrophages. Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) were significantly and dose-dependently diminished by cocoa extract, and this effect was higher than that produced by equivalent concentrations of epicatechin but was lower than that produced by isoquercitrin. Interestingly, cocoa extract added prior to cell activation resulted in a significantly greater inhibition of TNFalpha secretion. Both cocoa extract and epicatechin decreased TNFalpha, interleukin (IL) 1alpha, and IL-6 mRNA expression, suggesting that their inhibitory effect on cytokine secretion is produced, in part, at the transcriptional level. Cocoa extract also significantly decreased NO secretion in a dose-dependent manner and with a greater effect than that produced by epicatechin. In conclusion, our study shows that cocoa flavonoids not only inhibit NO release from macrophages but also down-regulate inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramiro
authors.forename: Angels
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franch
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castellote
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pérez-Cano
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Permanyer
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Izquierdo-Pulido
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002099:Cacao / Q000737:chemistry*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008264:Macrophages; D051379:Mice; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D016207:Cytokines; D005419:Flavonoids; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide