title: Wild bitter melon (Momordica charantia Linn. var. abbreviata Ser.) extract and its bioactive components suppress Propionibacterium acnes-induced inflammation.
abstract: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of wild bitter melons (WBM; Momordica charantia Linn. var. abbreviata Ser.) on Propionibacterium acnes-induced inflammation and to identify the bioactive components. Our results showed that ethyl acetate (EA) extract of WBM fruit in vitro potently suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 levels in P. acnes-stimulated THP-1 cells. Furthermore, concomitant intradermal injection of WBM EA extract in mice effectively attenuated P. acnes-induced ear swelling and granulomatous inflammation. To further investigate the bioactive components, we found that both saponifiable (S) and nonsaponifiable (NS) fractions of WBM EA extract significantly suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokine and MMP-9 levels. Phytol and lutein, identified in the NS fraction, also inhibited cytokine production. Moreover, S and NS fractions of EA extract, phytol and lutein, activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α and β in the transactivation assay. Our results suggested that PPARα or PPARγ signalling may contribute, at least in part, to the anti-inflammatory activity of WBM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Tsung-Hsien
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: You-Yi
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wen-Huey
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ching-Jang
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Po-Jung
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D029777:Momordica charantia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts