Anti-inflammatory effects of ethanolic mulberry extract on the murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7

The aim of this study was to compare the anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extracts of root peel and spear of mulberry (RME and SME, respectively) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Both extracts significantly inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). However, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) levels decreased in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells treated with SME. Additionally, the extracts reduced inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in mRNA levels. Although ROS production was lower in the RME-treated cells than in the SME-treated cells, the levels of other inflammatory parameters, including IL-6 and PGE₂, and mRNA levels of iNOS and COX-2 reduced more in the SME-treated cells. These results indicate that SME showed higher anti-inflammatory activities than RME. Therefore, SME can be used as a functional food ingredient to enhance health.