Anti-inflammatory activity of hyperoside through the suppression of nuclear factor-κB activation in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Hyperoside (quercetin-3-O-galactoside) is a flavonoid compound mainly found in the herb plants Hypericum perforatum L and Crataegus pinnatifida. Although hyperoside has a variety of pharmacological effects including anti-viral, anti-oxidative, and anti-apoptotic activities, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of hyperoside in mouse peritoneal macrophages remains unclear. In this study, hyperoside was shown to exert an anti-inflammatory action through suppressed production of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, and nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. The maximal inhibition rate of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and nitric oxide production by 5 μM hyperoside was 32.31 ± 2.8%, 41.31 ± 3.1%, and 30.31 ± 4.1%, respectively. In addition, hyperoside inhibited nuclear factor-κB activation and IκB-α degradation. The present study suggests that an important molecular mechanism by hyperoside reduces inflammation, which might explain its beneficial effect in the regulation of inflammatory reactions.