title: Clove and eugenol in noncytotoxic concentrations exert immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory action on cytokine production by murine macrophages.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The extract and essential oil of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) are widely used because of their medicinal properties. Eugenol is the most important component of clove, showing several biological properties. Herein we have analysed the immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory effect of clove and eugenol on cytokine production (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10) in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Macrophages were incubated with clove or eugenol (5, 10, 25, 50 or 100µg/well) for 24h. Concentrations that inhibited the production of cytokines were used before or after incubation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), to verify a preventive or therapeutic effect. Culture supernatants were harvested for measurement of cytokines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clove (100µg/well) inhibited IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 production and exerted an efficient action either before or after LPS challenge for all cytokines. Eugenol did not affect IL-1β production but inhibited IL-6 and IL-10 production. The action of eugenol (50 or 100µg/well) on IL-6 production prevented efficiently effects of LPS either before or after its addition, whereas on IL-10 production it counteracted significantly LPS action when added after LPS incubation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clove exerted immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting LPS action. A possible mechanism of action probably involved the suppression of the nuclear factor-κB pathway by eugenol, since it was the major compound found in clove extract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tatiana Fernanda
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Bachiega
authors.forename: João Paulo Barreto
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.forename: Jairo Kenupp
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: José Maurício
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sforcin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005054:Eugenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027842:Syzygium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D005054:Eugenol