title: Effects of Litchi chinensis fruit isolates on prostaglandin E(2) and nitric oxide production in J774 murine macrophage cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Litchi chinensis is regarded as one of the 'heating' fruits in China, which causes serious inflammation symptoms to people.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current study, the effects of isolates of litchi on prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and nitric oxide (NO) production in J774 murine macrophage cells were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The AcOEt extract (EAE) of litchi was found effective on stimulating PGE(2) production, and three compounds, benzyl alcohol, hydrobenzoin and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfurolaldehyde (5-HMF), were isolated and identified from the EAE. Benzyl alcohol caused markedly increase in PGE(2) and NO production, compared with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as positive control, and in a dose-dependent manner. Hydrobenzoin and 5-HMF were found in litchi for the first time, and both of them stimulated PGE(2) and NO production moderately in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression and NF-κB (p50) activation might be involved in mechanism of the stimulative process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed, some short molecular compounds in litchi play inflammatory effects on human.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key laboratory of Food Quality and Safety, College of Food Science, South China Agricultural University, Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510642, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ruili
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yuanming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yudong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Hongtao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001573:Benzoin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005638:Fruit; D005663:Furans / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D032125:Litchi / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005663:Furans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C540375:hydrobenzoin; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C012986:furfuryl alcohol; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone; D001573:Benzoin; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol