Polyphenols extracted from Hibiscus sabdariffa L. inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation by improving antioxidative conditions and regulating cyclooxygenase-2 expression.

Oxidative stress and inflammation are related to several chronic diseases including cancer and atherosclerosis. Hibiscus sabdariffa Linnaeus has been found to possess antioxidant effects. In this study, polyphenols extracted from Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (HPE) were used to detect anti-inflammatory effects on nitrite and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated RAW264.7 cells. Sequentially, an animal model examination was performed to confirm the effects of HPE on LPS-induced hepatic inflammation. The results showed that HPE reduced 94.6% of xanthine oxidase activity in vitro, and decreased nitrite and PGE(2) secretions in LPS-induced cells. In LPS-treated rats, HPE significantly decreased the serum levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase. In the liver, lipid peroxidation and liver lesions decreased, and catalase activity and glutathione increased. The study also revealed that down-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), p-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK) and p-P38 might have been involved. In sum, this study found an anti-inflammatory potency of HPE both in vitro and in vivo.