Methyl Derivatives of Flavone as Potential Anti-Inflammatory Compounds

Flavones are natural compounds that are broadly distributed in our diet. Their unique properties provide the possibility to control the immune system and the process of inflammation. A high intake of flavonoids, including flavones, may offer protection against reactive oxygen species, inflammation, and chronic diseases. In this research, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of five methylflavones, 2'-methylflavone (5C), 3'-methylflavone (6C), 4'-methylflavone (7C), 6-methylflavone (8C), and 6-methyl-8-nitroflavone (12C), in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW 264.7 cells (murine macrophage cell line). We estimated the nitrite concentration and detected reactive oxygen species using the chemiluminescence method. Moreover, we measured the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines using the Bio-Plex Magnetic Luminex Assay. As a result of our findings, we have established that some of the methyl derivatives of flavone inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production and chemiluminescence generated by LPS-stimulated macrophages, but they also have an influence on pro-inflammatory cytokines production. This study showed that 2'-methylflavone (5C) and 3'-methylflavone (6C) possess the strongest anti-inflammatory activity among all tested derivatives of flavone. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that methylflavones may be potentially valuable compounds for the alleviation of inflammatory reactions.