This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. (EUO) leaf extracts on RAW264.7 macrophages. Cell toxicity was determined by MTT assay. We evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of EUO extracts by measuring nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) production, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression by western blotting. EUO ethanolic extracts (0.1, 1, 5, and 10 μg/mL) significantly suppressed LPS-stimulated production of NO. EUO ethanolic extracts reduced the expression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins. The present results show that EUO ethanol extract has potent anti-inflammatory effects on RAW264.7 macrophages. These results also suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of EUO extracts may be related to the inhibition of LPS-stimulated NO production. Therefore, ethanolic extracts of EUO leaves may be utilized as a good source of functional food and pharmaceutical applications for protection against inflammatory diseases.

Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., inflammation, macrophage cells, iNOS, COX-2