The combination of catechin, baicalin and β‑caryophyllene potentially suppresses the production of inflammatory cytokines in mouse macrophages in vitro

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that the combination of three botanical factors of (+)-catechin, baicalin and -caryophyllene, which exhibit anti-inflammatory effects, with comparatively lower concentrations of each factor, demonstrating a potent synergistic-suppressive effect on the growth of mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells in vitro, and suggesting it may function as a pharmacologic tool for managing inflammatory diseases. The present study was undertaken to determine the suppressive effects of (+)-catechin, baicalin or -caryophyllene on the production of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-, IL-6 and IL-1, which was enhanced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.7 cells in vitro. The cells were cultured for 3 days without botanical factors, followed by incubation for 5 h in the presence of either vehicle, (+)-catechin [1 mu g/ml (3.45 mu M)], baicalin [1 mu g/ml (2.24 mu M)], or -caryophyllene [1 mu g/ml (5 mu M)] with or without LPS (100 ng/ml); this did not have significant effects on the number of RAW264.7 cells. The production of TNF-, IL-6 and IL-1 was not altered by the addition of (+)-catechin, baicalin, -caryophyllene, or the three combined factors in RAW264.7 cells without LPS. LPS treatment caused a marked production of TNF-, IL-6, and IL-1. This enhancement was suppressed by the addition of (+)-catechin, baicalin or -caryophyllene. Of note, the production of these cytokines was additively suppressed by the combination of the three factors in macrophages. Thus, the combination of (+)-catechin, baicalin and -caryophyllene was found to reveal a potent suppressive effect on cytokine production in macrophages in vitro. This composition may be a useful tool as a potent anti-inflammatory agent.