Van Tıp Dergisi (Apr 2018)

Investigation of the effect of hyperforin and hypericin on inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 macrophages

  • Mehmet Berköz,
  • Oruc Allahverdiyev,
  • Metin Yıldırım

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5505/vtd.2018.07769
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 25, no. 2
pp. 124 – 131

Abstract

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INTRODUCTION: Inflammation is an innate immune response that protects host organism from external injuries and pathogens. The increased inflammatory response in organism can cause many diseases, especially cancer. Many natural and synthetic substances are used for annihilating the inflammatory response. Hypericin and hyperforin, isolated from Hypericum perforatum L., has shown anti-viral, anti-cancer, anti-depressive and anti-microbial properties. However, data on the mechanism of hypericin and hyperforin action against inflammation is limited. This study aimed at determining the anti-inflammatory property of hypericin and hyperforin using in vitro model. METHODS: In this study, 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 nM hyperforin and 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 µM hypericin were treated to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. We purposed to display the anti-inflammatory effects of hypericin and hyperforin via measuring prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) production and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression in LPS induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. RESULTS: Our study has shown that all applied concentration of hyperforin and hypericin decreased nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages, significantly. Similarly, all applied concentration of hyperforin and hypericin decreased prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production but this decrease was statistically significant only in groups treated with 75 and 100 nM hyperforin and 7.5 and 10 μM hypericin. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This indicates that hyperforin and hypericin inhibited NO and PGE2 production and iNOS and COX-2 gene expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of NO and PGE2 production by hyperforin and hypericin is a result of the inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 gene expression. For this reason, it is possible to say that hypericin and hyperforin can be used to reduce the inflammatory response.

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