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Related Experiment Videos

Flavonoids from Theobroma cacao down-regulate inflammatory mediators.

Emma Ramiro1, Angels Franch, Cristina Castellote

  • 1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|October 27, 2005
PubMed
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Cocoa extract effectively reduces inflammatory mediators like tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and nitric oxide (NO) in macrophages. These cocoa flavonoids also down-regulate inflammatory cytokines and chemokines at the RNA level.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Macrophages play a crucial role in inflammatory responses.
  • Proinflammatory mediators secreted by macrophages contribute to various diseases.
  • Dietary compounds are increasingly investigated for their immunomodulatory effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of cocoa extract on the secretion and gene expression of inflammatory mediators in macrophages.
  • To compare the efficacy of cocoa extract with its components, epicatechin and isoquercitrin.

Main Methods:

  • Macrophages were treated with varying concentrations of cocoa extract.
  • Secretion levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of TNFalpha, interleukin (IL) 1alpha, and IL-6 was analyzed.
  • The timing of cocoa extract administration (pre- vs. post-activation) was evaluated.

    • Main Results:

    • Cocoa extract significantly inhibited the dose-dependent secretion of TNFalpha and NO.
    • The inhibitory effect of cocoa extract on TNFalpha was greater than epicatechin but less than isoquercitrin.
    • Pre-treatment with cocoa extract enhanced the inhibition of TNFalpha secretion.
    • Cocoa extract and epicatechin reduced TNFalpha, IL-1alpha, and IL-6 mRNA expression, indicating transcriptional regulation.
    • Cocoa extract demonstrated a greater inhibitory effect on NO secretion than epicatechin.

    Conclusions:

    • Cocoa flavonoids possess potent anti-inflammatory properties.
    • Cocoa extract effectively inhibits nitric oxide release from macrophages.
    • Cocoa extract down-regulates the expression of key inflammatory cytokines and chemokines at the transcriptional level.