eng Science and Education Publishing Journal of Food and Nutrition Research 2333-1240 2024-01-11 12 1 26 33 10.12691/jfnr-12-1-3 JFNR20241213 article Ming-Jen Sheu 1 Shih-Ying Chen 2 Charng-Cherng Chyau 3 Ying-Chun Lin 4 Pin-Der Duh ipdduh@mail.cnu.edu.tw 4 Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, 710402 Taiwan, R.O.C Department of Health and Nutrition, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, 71710 Taiwan, R.O.C Research Institute of Biotechnology, Hungkuang University, 34 Chung-Chie Road, Shalu County, Taichung, 43302 Taiwan, R.O.C Department of Food Science and Technology, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, 60 Erh-Jen Road, Section 1, Pao-An, Jen-Te District, Tainan, 71710 Taiwan, R.O.C Betanin has been approved for use in food and pharmaceutical products as a natural red colorant. Recently, potential health benefits of betanin and betanin-rich foods have been discussed. This study aimed to investigate the attenuation of LPS-induced inflammatory responses through inhibition of NF-kB and MAPK signaling pathways by betanin. The results show that betanin at 1-50 µM exerted an anti-inflammatory effect on inhibiting LPS-induced intracellular nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and interlukin 6 (IL-6). In addition, betanin decreased iNOS and COX-2 protein expression. Western blotting analysis indicated that betanin inhibited the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) protein expression and also inhibited the MAPK signaling pathway. Above all, anti-inflammatory effects of betanin are attributed to its inhibition of inflammatory gene expression through the blocking of the NF-kB and MAPK signaling pathways. Taken together, these findings suggest that betanin is a potential anti-inflammatory mediator for inflammation-related disease treatment. https://pubs.sciepub.com/jfnr/12/1/3/jfnr-12-1-3.pdf Anti-inflammatory effect betanin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) NF-kB MAPK RAW2647 macrophage