Anti-inflammatory effect of a pomegranate extract on LPS-stimulated HepG2 cells

Abstract

Pomegranate is an important source of bioactive molecules with proven beneficial effects on human health. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory effect of a pomegranate extract (PE), obtained from the whole fruit and previously characterized by Reversed Phase-Ultra High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (RP-UHPLC–HRMS), on HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells challenged with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In LPS-treated cells (1 µg/ml, 24h), the PE treatment (administered at the non-cytotoxic dose of 1 µg/ml, 24h) induced a significant reduction of three key pro-inflammatory cytokines, i.e. interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), at both gene expression (as assayed by real-time PCR) and secretion levels (by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, ELISA). Although further in vivo studies are needed to prove its efficacy, this preliminary in vitro study suggests that the PE might be useful for ameliorating liver inflammation.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Pomegranate
• anti-inflammatory
• LPS
• cytokines
• HepG2 cells
• in vitro

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

C.R. is an employee at Esserre Pharma Srl.

The Esserre Pharma srl had no role in the design of the study, in the collection, analyses and interpretation of the data or in the decision to publish the results.

Data availability statement

Data and materials are available from corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The experimental in vitro study was funded by the Esserre Pharma Srl. The company also provided the whole fruit dry extract.