Effects of methanolic extract and fractions from Litsea cubeba bark on the production of inflammatory mediators in RAW264.7 cells.

Both the methanolic extract and its fractions (0.01 mg/ml) from Litsea cubeba bark were found to inhibit NO and PGE2 production in LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages without significant cytotoxicity at less than 0.01 mg/ml concentration. Moreover, L. cubeba bark extract and its fractions significantly decreased the activity of myeloperoxidase catalyzing oxidation of chloride to HOCl and O2- production was reduced by methanol extract (0.05 mg/ml), chloroform fraction (0.025-0.05 mg/ml) and butanol fraction (0.005 mg/ml). These findings suggest that L. cubeba is beneficial for inflammatory conditions and may contain compound(s) with anti-inflammatory properties.