Flavonoids and a Sesquiterpene Lactone from Tanacetum microphyllum Inhibit Anti-Inflammatory Mediators in LPS-Stimulated Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages

Abstract

In our ongoing research into anti-inflammatory compounds from Tanacetum microphyllum, four naturally occurring flavonoids (santin, ermanin, centaureidin and 5,3′-dihydroxy-4′-methoxy-7- methoxycarbonylflavonol) and one sesquiterpene lactone (hydroxyachillin) isolated from this plant, were evaluated as potential inhibitors of some macrophage functions involved in the inflammatory process. These five compounds significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in a concentration-dependent manner. In the tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) assay, only centaureidin and hydroxyachillin significantly inhibited the accumulation of TNF-α. These results indicate that these compounds may contribute to the anti-inflammatory properties of T. microphyllum.