GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOPHYSICS, cilt.38, sa.4, ss.315-324, 2019 (SCI-Expanded)
Diosmin is an unsaturated flavonoid glycoside, presents in citrus fruits. The aim of this study is to investigate the molecular mechanism of diosmin with respect to the NF-kappa B and MAPKs signaling pathways. Firstly, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mu M diosmin were treated to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. The anti-inflammatory effects of diosmin was displayed via measuring prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)), nitric oxide (NO), interleukines (IL-6, IL-12), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IL-6, IL-12, TNF-alpha mRNA levels, and phosphorylation levels of nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor alpha (I kappa B-alpha) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs); JNK, ERK, and p38 in LPS induced RAW264.7 macrophages. Our study showed that especially high concentrations of diosmin decreased NO, PGE 2 , IL-6, IL-12, TNF-alpha production and mRNA levels of these mediators (p < 0.05). The expression of phosphorylated-JNK was significantly suppressed by diosmin at 40 and 50 mu M concentrations. Furthermore, diosmin significantly inhibited the expression of phosphorylated-ERK, p38, and p-I kappa B-alpha in a dose-dependent manner. Our results suggest that diosmin is a potent anti-inflammatory agent and has potential for development into a therapeutic agent for inflammation-associated disorders.