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Chloroform extract of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation by downregulating ERK/NF-κB signaling and cytokine production.

Abstract
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is commonly used as a traditional medicine and functional food. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of alfalfa and the mechanisms involved. The chloroform extract of alfalfa aerial parts inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated immune responses more than ether, butanol, or water soluble extracts. Treatment with 1 μg/mL LPS increased nitrite concentrations to 44.3 μM in RAW267.4 macrophages, but it was reduced to 10.6 μM by adding 100 μg/mL chloroform extract. LPS treatment also increased the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β to 41.3, 11.6, and 0.78 ng/mL in culture supernatants of the cells, but these cytokine levels decreased to 12.5, 3.1, and 0.19 ng/mL, respectively, by pretreating with 100 μg/mL of the extract. ICR mice injected with LPS (30 mg/kg body weight) alone showed a 0% survival rate after 48 h of the injection, but 48-h survival of the mice increased to 60% after oral administration of the extract. Subfractions of the chloroform extract markedly suppressed LPS-mediated activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and nuclear factor kappa-B. Cinnamic acid derivatives and fatty acids were found to be active constituents of the extract. This research demonstrated that alfalfa aerial parts exert anti-inflammatory activity and may be useful as a functional food for the prevention of inflammatory disorders.
AuthorsKi-Choon Choi, Jung-Min Hwang, Sung-Jun Bang, Beom-Tae Kim, Dong-Hern Kim, Minseon Chae, Seung-Ah Lee, Gi Jun Choi, Da Hye Kim, Jeong-Chae Lee
JournalJournal of medicinal food (J Med Food) Vol. 16 Issue 5 Pg. 410-20 (May 2013) ISSN: 1557-7600 [Electronic] United States
PMID23631491 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Plant Extracts
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
Topics
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage, isolation & purification)
  • Cell Line
  • Cytokines (genetics, immunology)
  • Down-Regulation (drug effects)
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases (genetics, immunology)
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation (drug therapy, genetics, immunology)
  • Lipopolysaccharides (adverse effects)
  • Macrophages (drug effects, immunology)
  • Medicago sativa (chemistry)
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • NF-kappa B (genetics, immunology)
  • Plant Extracts (administration & dosage, isolation & purification)
  • Signal Transduction (drug effects)

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