Hydroethanolic Extract of <i>Morus nigra</i> L. Leaves: A Dual PPAR-α/γ Agonist with Anti-Inflammatory Properties in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW 264.7
Amanda de Assis Carneiro,
Simone Batista Pires Sinoti,
Marcela Medeiros de Freitas,
Luiz Alberto Simeoni,
Christopher William Fagg,
Pérola de Oliveira Magalhães,
Dâmaris Silveira,
Yris Maria Fonseca-Bazzo
Affiliations
Amanda de Assis Carneiro
Natural Products Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Health Sciences School, University of Brasília (UnB), Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
Simone Batista Pires Sinoti
Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Health Sciences School, University of Brasília (UnB), Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
Marcela Medeiros de Freitas
Natural Products Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Health Sciences School, University of Brasília (UnB), Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
Luiz Alberto Simeoni
Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Health Sciences School, University of Brasília (UnB), Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
Christopher William Fagg
Department of Botany, Institute of Biological Science, School of Pharmacy, Ceilândia Campus, University of Brasília, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
Pérola de Oliveira Magalhães
Natural Products Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Health Sciences School, University of Brasília (UnB), Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
Dâmaris Silveira
Natural Products Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Health Sciences School, University of Brasília (UnB), Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
Yris Maria Fonseca-Bazzo
Natural Products Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Health Sciences School, University of Brasília (UnB), Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil
Inhibition of systemic inflammation has been a beneficial strategy in treating several non-communicable diseases, which represent one of the major causes of mortality in the world. The Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPAR) are interesting pharmacological targets, since they can act both through the metabolic and anti-inflammatory pathways. Morus nigra L. has flavonoids in its chemical composition with recognized anti-oxidant activity and often associated with anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the hydroethanolic extract of M. nigra leaves’ ability to activate PPAR and promote anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage cells. The leaf extract was prepared by cold maceration, and the chemical profile was obtained by HPLC-DAD. Activation of PPAR α and γ was evaluated by the luciferase reporter assay. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by measuring the reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) in RAW 264.7 cells after stimulation with LPS from Escherichia coli. The HPLC-DAD analysis identified two major compounds: rutin and isoquercitrin. The extract showed agonist activity for the two types of PPAR, α and γ, although its major compounds, rutin and isoquercitrin, did not significantly activate the receptors. In addition, the extract significantly reduced the production of ROS, NO, and TNF-α. Treatment with the specific PPAR-α antagonist, GW 6471, was able to partially block the anti-inflammatory effect caused by the extract.
