A Study of the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Dusokohwaeum

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Dusokohwaeum (DOE). Methods: To measure the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of DOE, the total flavonoid and polyphenol contents and radical scavenging activity were measured. Furthermore, reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide, and cytokine production were measured by treating lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells with DOE, and gene expression levels of inducible cyclooxygenase-2, nitric oxide synthase, and cytokines were evaluated. Results: Radical scavenging experiments revealed a significant concentration-dependent increase in scavenging capacity. The production of ROS, nitric oxide, and cytokines in the cells showed a significant concentration-dependent decrease when compared with the control group. The gene expression levels of inducible cyclooxygenase-2, nitric oxide synthase, and cytokines also showed a significant concentration-dependent decrease when compared with the control group. Conclusion: Interestingly, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of DOE were 23.42 ± 0.64 mg GAE/g and 20.83 ± 0.98 mg QE/g, respectively. The administration of DOE resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in scavenging ability in the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline- 6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging ability experiments. The production of intracellular ROS and nitric oxide was significantly reduced in the presence of DOE. The production of inflammatory cytokines (prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], interleukin-1 beta [IL-1β], and IL-6) was significantly reduced in the presence of DOE. Finally, the expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were significantly decreased in the presence of DOE.